For a possible new project, I'd like to know how many amps are used to cold/hot start an RX-8?

I'm not interested in battery CCA rating, AH rating, or types/sizes - just the actual amps needed over the time while starting happens. No lights/electrical on except brake lights. Everyday average 50-80 degree ambient.

I'm trying to get to, for example, "73amps for 3 seconds, with initial 97amp spike." , or something similar for both cold start and hot restart. Thanks.

 

gunna need one heck of a beefed up oscope to read that

 

No, just an inductive pickup coil like one used on timing lights.

 

Went to sears last night and it's ~$100 to get a clamp on meter that does DC amps, most only do AC amps. Hoping someone has one and can try it. The other way is with a 'shunt' meter that measures the tiny voltage drop over a short calibrated link in series with the load. Don't have that either.

 

I have a meter than can measure up to 10A DC. I see some instructions for shunts on teh Google, I'll see if I can figure it out today.

 

Okay, a shunt let's you measure high current as DCV (duh.) The problem with a DMM in this application is the sample rate. However, I have a nice analog meter so maybe it will be okay. Scope would be best though.