Don't know this electrical part, what is it?

Geocritter wrote:
I'm about to start work determining why my starter on my 1994 Holiday Rambler with the 460 V8 is giving me trouble (FWIW it's a new starter). Pictured here is a prehistoric circuit board located on the firewall above my battery. The big switch and knob is for isolating the battery. My question is, what is the item with the two cables going to it that I have circled in red, my guess is that it's some kind of fusible link but before I bypass it or jump it out while trying to determine what's not allowing adequate power to go to my starter I'd like to know what it is.

Thanks in advance for any help identifying the item.

Steve

Definitely looks like an ignition solenoid. Note the cable leading back to the vertical relay bank to the right. Small red wire sends power to it when the ignition is turned on and the relay closes and sends power to whatever is wired to the bank of wires to the right. Probably dash items like heater/AC, power mirrors, windshield wipers, etc. if you jump the wires the aforementioned will always be on whether the ignition is on or not. If you short circuit the relay it will probably melt.