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advice for extending a wiring loom
smart51 - 3/10/10 at 03:31 PM

I need to extend the wiring loom from my donor to fit my new build. There are 46 wires in the centre section, which will include heavy duty battery cables because my battery will be at the other end to the engine. What is the best way to do this? Do I just measure out 46 lengths of 1.2m long wire then cut and solder them in one at a time?

oadamo - 3/10/10 at 03:41 PM

yeah 1 at a time is best. i got in a right mess just cutting the lot then trying to put it all back together
adam

interestedparty - 3/10/10 at 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by smart51
What is the best way to do this? Do I just measure out 46 lengths of 1.2m long wire then cut and solder them in one at a time?


Can't offhand think of a better way. If space is an issue I expect you will stagger the joins so you don't get a big bulge at one point.

Good trick is if you can get a 2nd hand loom the same and then you can use the same colour codes, if they are long enough, or you could cut a piece off the end of each existing wire then splice in the plain extension, then refit the colour coded end (this is assuming you don't have 46 different colour cables in stock)

matt_gsxr - 3/10/10 at 04:03 PM

For the heavy duty cables it might be better to make up a new continual run using new cable. The joints are difficult to solder, and insulate. The consequences of a live battery cable touching the aluminium panels is not worth the risk, and you don't want any voltage drop along the battery cable when cranking.

Matt

jacko - 3/10/10 at 04:07 PM

You can get little tags that clip on the wires with numbers on if that will help you
Jacko

smart51 - 3/10/10 at 04:20 PM

good tip about a spare loom. Its cheaper than buying a reel of cable and you get all the different colours.

macc man - 3/10/10 at 04:33 PM

Have you thought about buying a new loom to suit your project. Mine cost about £100 from premier looms. save me days of work and was so easy to do.Just a thought.

big-vee-twin - 3/10/10 at 05:06 PM

Use heat shrink sleeving over each soldered joint then bind them all up with tape.

scudderfish - 3/10/10 at 05:15 PM

And cut the wire to length after you have soldered it at one end. It's a bugger if you find your precut wire is 5mm too short...

interestedparty - 3/10/10 at 05:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by smart51
good tip about a spare loom.


You're welcome It's not original though.

hillbillyracer - 3/10/10 at 07:29 PM

How long is the section between branches off where you want to join as it is as standard? If the the bit you want to lenthen is 1m long now & you need it 2m could you get an identical loom then cut the two looms at opposite ends of the straight bit that you want to extend, then you piece the two looms together to make the longer one.
This gives you half the joints & all the wires the correct colour.

If you dont get what I mean think of making a stretch limo by cutting two cars up, one just behind the front screen & one just infront of the rear screen & joining the longer front to the longer rear instead of cutting one car in two & adding a section from scratch.