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What amp wires?

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:39 pm
by Arthurdaily
Hi, I'm doing a touch of rewiring, and was wondering what ampage of wire to use for:

1. Extending the main light wires
2. Running a wire to a new electric windscreen washer pump
3. Running a line from the temperature switch on the engine to a smiths gauge inside
4. Attaching a car radio

Is there a list anywhere of what types of wire to use?

Thanks!

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:39 pm
by beero
There is a very good guide on this website. They tell you what size wire is commonly used on each electrical item.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... dcable.php

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:30 pm
by mike.perry
It is just as important to use the correct colour code wires.

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:31 pm
by Arthurdaily
?? Correct colours - why? If you intend keeping the car - then it isn't an issue... possibly... where would you get all the odd colours from?

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:02 am
by Alec
Hello Arthur,

using non standard wire colours makes it a nightmare to fault find in a few years time. The correct colour and section of cable is available by the metre from the company Beero linked. Also buy some loom tape, much easier, neater and quicker than insulating tape.

Alec

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:30 pm
by robedney
mike.perry wrote:It is just as important to use the correct colour code wires.
It's certainly nice to use the correct color -- but not quite just as important. The electrical circuit doesn't care what color the insulation is, but it does care if the conductor is undersized -- maybe enough to set things ablaze! Color coding is for us humans, and it's very helpful if it's consistent. However, mine's a daily driver, and no matter how much stuff I have around I never seem to have the right color to make an emergency repair.

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:25 am
by Declan_Burns
Alec wrote:Hello Arthur,

using non standard wire colours makes it a nightmare to fault find in a few years time. The correct colour and section of cable is available by the metre from the company Beero linked. Also buy some loom tape, much easier, neater and quicker than insulating tape.

Alec
Couldn't agree more!
Regards
Declan

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:38 pm
by katy
I use one colour, grey, because I have lots of it, new, different sizes, left over from a previous job, but I do colour code the ends for later tracing in necessary.

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:36 pm
by mike.perry
Always keep the old wiring loom (plastic coated), then in future you can strip out whatever colour you need, Except the bit that burnt out! :(

Re: What amp wires?

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:14 pm
by Arthurdaily
Thanks for the link Beero - nice and easy info there, and all the wires I'd ever need - I'll be ordering from them, cheers.