bluespanner Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Right then... the time has come to get the lights wired up on my project. I was planning to use 7 core trailer cable for the rear lights, (right, left, stop, tail, fog, reverse) What to use for the fronts though? I assume trailer cable is a bit weedy for the headlights.... Any ideas anyone? Cheers Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Might I ask why make life difficult doing it that way. Easier for you maybe but what about keeping to the correct wiring colour codes. In the long run it makes a job of tracing faults easier. Trailer cable is for wiring trailers.... My point of view... mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 autospaks looms go for these, correct wire size & colour codes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 On a custom loom, a run of 7-core to the back is no bad thing. For the rest of it though, use the right colours and sizes. If the vehicle is fairly standard, just buy an Autosparks loom, it's cheaper and easier in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluespanner Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 Standard eh... Its a Rangie chassised, disco engined, series bodied vehicle, but with a defender bulkhead and loom. I do like the idea of using the right colours and sizes to the front though... Maybe I should find a breaker and pinch the looms out of it. Everyone ok with the trailer cable to the back though? I'd do it as per trailer wiring, ie yellow left, green right, red brake, brown sidelights, blue foglight, then white as my reverse and black as a back up earth aswell as the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 If it was me.. I'd go to Vehicle Wiring Products and make the complete loom up to suit using stand colour coding for the wires.. That's me. I like and know what the wire colours mean. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluespanner Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 I like knowing what does what too. Thats why im doing it myself. There isnt a component of this project I havnt held in my hand! I have a bulkhead loom, but where it comes out and goes off in the wings it has been cut off. So I need to wire from here to the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I like knowing what does what too. Thats why im doing it myself. There isnt a component of this project I havnt held in my hand!I have a bulkhead loom, but where it comes out and goes off in the wings it has been cut off. So I need to wire from here to the front. If that were myself I'd start again from scratch. Yes I have done one ......In fact two looms fron scratch. All using the correct colours, cable sises and new connectors. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I do like the idea of using the right colours and sizes to the front though... Maybe I should find a breaker and pinch the looms out of it. Second hand wire? I would have to say that's a really bad idea for several reasons: 1 - It'll be variously manky, oily, sticky, bundled together, brittle, and corroded. 2 - You have no guarantee of getting the colours you want (assuming you're not planning on something heroically daft like inventing your own colour scheme from an old OEM loom) 3 - You have no guarantee of getting enough wire for any specific bit 4 - By the time you've extracted a loom, picked it apart and sorted it out you will really, really, wish you'd just bought the right stuff from VWP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitform Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 At £270 odd quid, I'd be making my own loom up. I completely rewired my 2a when I rebuilt it, stripped the original loom, went to the scrappy and got a couple of car looms. Second hand cable is OK provided the insulation is in good condition, yep it can be a bit gooey but a lot cheaper. Get some proper wiring harness tape to bind your new harness up to make a tidy job of it. The important part is make your own wiring diagram as you make the loom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I've stopped using the proper harness tape, the non sticky insulation tape. I prefere the Spiral Wrap these days. Easier to remove if you want to put another wire down the same place. Quite neat as well. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuntman Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 We've used 7 core trailer cabling in the past for doing the rear of one off projects, it keeps things very simple, a fair few rally boys use it aswell, as they make a juction box at the back and split the cable from there, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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