sgo70 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Man do I feel your pain. I started mine on December 22. I have my son every other week so I don't touch it when he's with me so I do take breaks but basically been a month of work. I've added a LOT of options to mine and I find if I make a break down list of what I need to do then cross it off as I do it it really helps mentally. You can see your progress even though you feel like you're not getting anywhere. I can finally see an end now, but having to figure things out along the way really takes it toll so I try to have some easy jobs to do along the way. You'll get through it. I gotta say I really hated fishing the wires for the door jamb switches haha. 30 relays and just under 50 fuses later........gotta test it all out and then clean it up, I never want to touch this again! Sean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, sgo70 said: Man do I feel your pain. I started mine on December 22. I have my son every other week so I don't touch it when he's with me so I do take breaks but basically been a month of work. I've added a LOT of options to mine and I find if I make a break down list of what I need to do then cross it off as I do it it really helps mentally. You can see your progress even though you feel like you're not getting anywhere. I can finally see an end now, but having to figure things out along the way really takes it toll so I try to have some easy jobs to do along the way. You'll get through it. I gotta say I really hated fishing the wires for the door jamb switches haha. 30 relays and just under 50 fuses later........gotta test it all out and then clean it up, I never want to touch this again! Sean All that work Sean, then you discover that your steering wheel is on the wrong side 😉🤣 Mo 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger110 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 4 hours ago, sgo70 said: Man do I feel your pain. I started mine on December 22. I have my son every other week so I don't touch it when he's with me so I do take breaks but basically been a month of work. I've added a LOT of options to mine and I find if I make a break down list of what I need to do then cross it off as I do it it really helps mentally. You can see your progress even though you feel like you're not getting anywhere. I can finally see an end now, but having to figure things out along the way really takes it toll so I try to have some easy jobs to do along the way. You'll get through it. I gotta say I really hated fishing the wires for the door jamb switches haha. 30 relays and just under 50 fuses later........gotta test it all out and then clean it up, I never want to touch this again! Sean The thing is, you can be properly proud of what you have achieved. Well done fella 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 4 hours ago, sgo70 said: basically been a month of work Does £700 still sound like a lot for not having to do it yourself? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 20 minutes ago, elbekko said: Does £700 still sound like a lot for not having to do it yourself? That has been going through my mind as soon as I started to chop up my old loom! I have added a few mods to mine like upgrading to modern connectors, relays for the headlights, better earthing for each corner and glow plug relay. Also indid a little more on it today with a fresh mind. I sorted out the parts that were bugging me yesterday and it's really taking shape. I think I spent too long on it yesterday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Good to hear, don't back down haha. I've spent more than 700 on wire and plugs alone haha. The problem is with a kit it will never be what you want and you have to modify them. I've read so much on Defenders having a bad ground and the search is on to find it. For this alone I ran three ground busses (engine bay, cab, rear) all tied to the battery. I suck at electrical trouble shooting. 1 hour ago, Mo Murphy said: All that work Sean, then you discover that your steering wheel is on the wrong side 😉🤣 Mo I knew when I took it down to the frame I might not get it back together properly. I also put the wrong engine back in! Sean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Hunter Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 sgo70, I'm about to start making my own looms for total wiring replacement on my 110 CSW, so I have been following this thread closely. I am currently struggling to find suitable, accessible locations for auxiliary fuse and relay panels. Please, what locations have you selected for your 30 relays and just under 50 fuses? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I sent you a pm cause first I feel like I'm hijacking Monkie's thread and also I don't think I'm allowed to post a link to my build which is easier than explaining everything. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 2 hours ago, sgo70 said: I sent you a pm cause first I feel like I'm hijacking Monkie's thread and also I don't think I'm allowed to post a link to my build which is easier than explaining everything. Sean Don't worry about that. The more information the better, it's all a learning process as far as I'm concerned. I have taken inspiration from how you and other people have done things, I don't want to be reinventing the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigj66 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 For connections to relays etc are you guys just using standard blue/red crimped insulated spade connectors or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Bigj66 said: For connections to relays etc are you guys just using standard blue/red crimped insulated spade connectors or something else? Yes but I try to buy decent quality ones, ideally Tyco/Amp, as the cheap ones are often so badly made they'll never work reliably if they stay on at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 (edited) I use these type sockets with the hanger so I don't have to unscrew a relay to change it. You have to get the terminals with the tabs on them to hold them in. https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/standard-mini-relay-socket-with-terminals.html Spent all day yesterday laying on my intake manifold running engine bay wires, sore today. If you look closely at that spaghetti mess of a fuse box you can see 3 relay holders on the side. Thats the fuse box with 10 relays and 40 fuses, couple smaller ones inside the truck. One 60 amp relay and 3 stereo wires to go!!! Sean Edited February 16, 2021 by sgo70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I can see an LS but I still don't know how you manage to fit that much wiring into a Defender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Haha, yes lots of wire. Actually it's a new Gen 5 5.3 LT with a 6L80 transmission......more down low torque/HP than an LS, more like the 6.0 LS in a 5.3. Sean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 3 hours ago, sgo70 said: I use these type sockets with the hanger so I don't have to unscrew a relay to change it. You have to get the terminals with the tabs on them to hold them in. https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/standard-mini-relay-socket-with-terminals.html Spent all day yesterday laying on my intake manifold running engine bay wires, sore today. If you look closely at that spaghetti mess of a fuse box you can see 3 relay holders on the side. Thats the fuse box with 10 relays and 40 fuses, couple smaller ones inside the truck. One 60 amp relay and 3 stereo wires to go!!! Sean This is top quality work, my eyes are drawn to the large blue wire on top of the engine. I think one is going to cause you a bit of trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Haha, I couldn't find a place to fit it lol. Thanks, By the looks of my fuse box right now I have a future in basket weaving. Needs some cleaning up. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 It is all very shiny! 😁 Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 4 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: I can see an LS but I still don't know how you manage to fit that much wiring into a Defender That's what I was thinking.... what on earth needs that many relays? One for each and every single light on the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 4 minutes ago, landroversforever said: That's what I was thinking.... what on earth needs that many relays? One for each and every single light on the car? I don't know they add up pretty quickly 4x for the headlights* 1x Glow plugs 2x Heated windscreens 1x Hazard relay Thats 8 before you start adding any extras such as an air compressor etc. For example when I eventually get around to the 1UZ swap there's two more for the igniters, at least one fuel pump, ECU main power and so on. * Or you get into the situation I did where lose one light and lose both whilst doing 60mph down on a narrow road next to a Loch in Scotland in a storm at night - not a pleasant experience I can testify to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 4 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: I can see an LS but I still don't know how you manage to fit that much wiring into a Defender It's a giant Faraday Cage. 🙂 Beautiful workmanship but watch out for thieving "travellers", if they strip the car they'll get £9k in copper! Can't wait to see the end product. 👍 G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Here's my entire fusebox and relay collection for the 109: That's everything in the truck fully fused & relayed including heated screen, EFI, digital dash, and dual-speed electric fans (Freelander dual fan relay behind dash). ECU+EDIS are behind the gauges, midi-fuses for the main power feeds are in the battery box. Total <10 relays and <30 fuses (that's the fusebox capacity but I've got unused slots). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo70 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 (edited) Yeah I had to add 2 for each window for power windows, 2 for power door locks, 3 for the AC to get the engine to idle up and turn on the rad fan, 3 for headlights, air compressor, brake relay for engine ecm, reverse relay, 2 seat heaters, starter, 2 LED flashers, I can't remember the rest. It takes quite a few just for engine controls because it has to go from a 20g signal wire to the load. I didn't even count the 4 built into the push button start, remote start, alarm etc. I don't even want to show what I did to the batteries today, you guys will make fun of me haha. I'm afraid to hook up the positive cable still, have at it lol. Sean Edited February 17, 2021 by sgo70 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 12 hours ago, landroversforever said: That's what I was thinking.... what on earth needs that many relays? One for each and every single light on the car? And yet despite all those relays he'll still be driving it long before you drive yours Ross 🤣 Mo 😉 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigj66 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Is there a simple way to know what gauge a wire is? I need to try and match a variety of sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 I got my wires from Autosparks. The "normal" wires are 1mm2, the thicker ones for the headlights for example or 2mm2 and the beefy 60amp stuff is 8.50mm2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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