Putting power to the starter off of the car

[Flash]

I have a 325i engine im trying to do a compression test on outside of the car, i know the number will be different when warm but i want a basic readout to see if the numbers are similar across the board.
I have this portable battery charger that im trying to use....i really dont want to pull the battery out of my own car but if i have to i dont have a choice.
At any rate i have this battery charger like i mentioned, you can put it on 2A for being a tender, or overnight charge, a 20A setting for basic charge, and 50A for quick start.
Now i hooked them up to the poles that say the wiring harness is normally hooked to, the switch on the bottom if you are looking at the front of the engine, and then the other post on the right (which would be toward the fender). So far nothing happens, the starter is good-it came off of my car, so it has to be that charger, or im doing something wrong. I am familiar with all the forumlas using amps, watts, and volts but is 50A enough on the charge to spin the starter?

Any help is appreciated as always.

[erik325i]

Why are you trying to use the charger? Just use a battery and hook the wires up to the starter.

Erik

[SpecM]

dude, 1/2 an amp will spin a starter.

just very...

very...

slowly.

50A is enough for what you need

EDIT: I see what you did there... you need it for an engine... do what Erik said

[Flash]

ugh so i took out the battery, used a spare battery cable that normally goes straight from the + to the starter, and then grounded the switch to the battery negative terminal, and nothing happens :hitler:
Its a new battery too, it works great just like the starter (when it was in the car).
I had a inury which prevents me from lifting much or doing much at all with my arm so im trying to do everything with one hand
I swear im doing it right, i read this a few days ago and now it doesnt work...
I feel retarded, i can build an engine but i cant spin a starter

[erik325i]

ugh so i took out the battery, used a spare battery cable that normally goes straight from the + to the starter, and then grounded the switch to the battery negative terminal, and nothing happens :hitler:

Now that you have power and ground to the starter, you need to trip the starter solenoid. So, take another cable, screwdriver, wrench, or whatever and touch the power terminal to the other solenoid terminal. It should go spinny now.

Erik

[Flash]

Thanks, i didnt read about the jumping with the third wire, it rotates now!