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Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:53 am
by 4ePajero
Simon's query on another forum relates. (Why not ask here?) :)

Here is a tip I discovered years ago:
Go to your local scrap yard and ask for a bundle of old wiring looms, taken from scrapped vehicles. Sometimes they have in a drum, or they have to send a stripper to take some out.
Strip them of all the plugs etc, clean them and roll into rolls. Mark the length on each roll with a piece of masking tape.
You now have a collection of colours and thicknesses which should last for years.

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Re: Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:13 am
by SimonB
Hmmm, nice tip! Will probably go to a scrapyard next weekend anyway

Re: Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:34 pm
by cloyd
Hi guys,

If I can make a suggestion. Go to the scrappies, find a similar car to yours and then strip the wiring out yourself. By doing it this way you gain the following: a) you get to know your model car better, b) you can make sure that you get all the clips and plastic bits that hold the loom in place, c) Do not remove the plugs!!

By keeping the plugs connected to the loom you have spare plugs and this allows you to relpace a small loom without having to reconnect wires.

I did this when I built my Cobra - I made use of the whole Ford Saphire loom and all the switches. When I bought my Pajero I did the same. This allowed me when I installed my Lock-diff,to use the correct colour code wires. Ditto for the extra roof lights that I installed.

Cloyd

Re: Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:01 am
by 4ePajero
I have to agree with Cloyd, but Simon's original query was where to get hold of wire (not necessarily for his vehicle).

So, depending on whether you just want wiring for odd-jobs or wiring to maintain your own vehicle will determine what looms you strip out and how you treat it (remove plugs, connectors etc).

Re: Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:12 am
by SimonB
I found a sparky around the corner from my office who has all the requisite cabling, lugs etc but yeah, for general wiring requirements the scrap yards is a good idea.

Re: Automotive cabling, where to find ?

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:47 pm
by cloyd
Hi guys,

Unfortunately I did not see Simon's original question and from the bits that I saw, I assumed that he wanted to do something to his Pajero. If you do add bits and pieces to your Pajero eg extra lights, additional fuelpumps, etc, my reply is still valid. By using wiring from a similar vehicle, you are assured that the thickness of the wire is correct for the application - nothing prevents you from using thicker wire but please not thinner wires.. I have seen cars with normal light flex that the owners used for spotlights without using a relay!! Thr "fire" from melting wires was on its way.

Cloyd.