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Wiring from engine bay to dash?
Steve Lovelock - 17/3/07 at 07:40 AM

Hi,

I have built a small ali box around the steering column area of the scuttle within my engine bay. It holds all the wiring that comes from within the car before it goes to the engine bay. I want to have a complete barrier between the cockpit and the engine bay. How do I get the wiring loom sections I need out of this box and maintain a seal? I know I could use a grommet but some of the wires have big plugs on the end of them such as the alternator and wont fit through a normal grommet?


Macbeast - 17/3/07 at 08:05 AM

Plan ahead ?

Grommets come in various sizes. Get one big enough for largest plug and feed that one through first then next largest, then wires without plugs and finish with bathroom sealant ( black or clear).

I think to be honest, I would cut plugs off feed through and reattach wires, but that could be a hassle.

HIH


turbodisplay - 17/3/07 at 08:36 AM

Use a metal sheet, ali 1 - 3mm thick.

Cut two squares 3 x 3".


Place above each other, drill 4 holes to mount.
Cut a large hole for the plugs to go through the original fitting.

Cut a hole for the gromet on both sheets, stilll together.

On sheet 1 cutout a thin (thick enough for your wires) strip from top side to hole,

On sheet, from bottom to hole.

Feed wires into both sheets and grommet. (might need to cut gromet if it will not strech over connector)

Add sealant, sheet1 covers strip on sheet 2, sheet 2 covers strip on sheet1. Line up mounting holes.

Fit 3" square onto original fitting.

Darren


turbodisplay - 17/3/07 at 08:46 AM

I`ll try to show my pannel if i can find the camera

Darren


Macbeast - 17/3/07 at 08:47 AM

Just remembered: bathroom sealant gives off acidy vapour while curing and you wouldn't want that to get into your relays etc. Either well ventilate while vinegary smell persists or use different type of sealant.


turbodisplay - 17/3/07 at 08:54 AM

You can get sealed relays, i used maplin auto relays with a bracket, the ones without a bracket are unsealeed and cost 3 times as much??????

Cut the brackets off with an angle grinder if not needed.

Darren


RazMan - 17/3/07 at 11:11 AM

If it is not in full view (or you don't mind what it looks like ) you can split some heater hose and wrap it around the cables, then stuff the whole lot into a hole in the panel, finishing off with silicone sealant to make it airtight. It can look quite neat with care and it saves stripping off all the connectors.


Confused but excited. - 17/3/07 at 01:20 PM

If you want to do a posh job, use a multi-pin plug (such as McMurdo make, as these will carry a fair amount of current per pin. We used these on big effects light fittings for 'Top of the Pops' and a panel mounted socket. Not locost but meeets your requirements.


BenB - 17/3/07 at 02:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by turbodisplay
Use a metal sheet, ali 1 - 3mm thick.

Cut two squares 3 x 3".


Place above each other, drill 4 holes to mount.
Cut a large hole for the plugs to go through the original fitting.

Cut a hole for the gromet on both sheets, stilll together.

On sheet 1 cutout a thin (thick enough for your wires) strip from top side to hole,

On sheet, from bottom to hole.

Feed wires into both sheets and grommet. (might need to cut gromet if it will not strech over connector)

Add sealant, sheet1 covers strip on sheet 2, sheet 2 covers strip on sheet1. Line up mounting holes.

Fit 3" square onto original fitting.

Darren


Yup- that's what I'd do for a tight seal. Get two square pieces of aliminium sheet and clamp them together. Drill a central grommet hole, four equally spaced rivet holes at the edges and the nibble or file a slot from the top through to the grommet hole. Slit the grommet and wrap round the wires, put the grommet in place then spin one of the sheets but 180 degrees to lock the grommet in place and rivet in place to the bulkhead....
The only thing you'ld have to plan ahead for is that the grommet would need to be able to take a panel thickness of twice the sheet thickness (for obvious reasons...)...


iscmatt - 17/3/07 at 06:07 PM

Demon tweeks do large grommets with metal surrounds? Alt plugs will easily be used with this as the grommet comes together lika sandwich

just another option

CLICK here to read about them, though there is no picture