I am using the standard loom on a busa engine and planning to just extend the loom where required.

the wires in the loom are 0.5mm and 1mm but to buy wire its comes in amps and that means nothing to me

what amp cable should I use for extending the loom?

Thanks

If you are modifying the loom, then you need to ensure that "Amps" do mean something to you. This will be the difference between Fire, or No Fire which could be a particularly expensive experience for you.

Each cable size is rated for current (in Amps or Amperes). You need to look at the accessory or current drawn through each cable, to understand what size the cable needs to be.

Confused?..........





....... Then get someone else to do it.

This isnt something you really want to get wrong.

It will probably be thinwall on anything modern and that carries more current for the size of the cable than the older cable.

The cross-sectional area of the copper, current ratings and typical uses are given here.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/cable/thinwall.php

So the diameter of the copper bit of the wire is Area/3.14 which should help you id what you have.

TBH if you can build the rest of the car the wiring isn't any harder to understand/work out. For some reason people get scared but take each circuit on it's own and there's nothing too complex.

Cable needs to be rated to carry the current of the component it's supplying plus a safety margin, then rounded up to the cable sizes available. Finally make sure the fuse is correctly rated - it's there to protect the cables so don't fit a bigger fuse than the cable rating or be tempted not to bother with one.

I agree with Rich. If you are in any way unsure get someone in to look at it for you. It's not worth the risk, the last thing you want is a cloud of smoke and flame from uner the bonnet just as you're enjoying a back-lane blat

Be safe

Firstly always use thinwall, its more abrasion resistant and higher specced cable.

For most things I use 1mm cable which is rated to 16 amps and its also available in the widest range of colours. It covers all your basic circuits on the car such as all lights, fuel pumps, sensors etc etc.

For things like starter solenoids and ignition feeds I use 2mm

The charging circuits I normally use 4mm. I also run 4mm as the main switched live to the fuse box from the ignition switch.

Battery to starter and main earths are 16mm

I get mine from HERE. They list it by cross sectional area and do just about every colour combination. It's what I used on my loom.