I want to re-wire the front end of my car as its getting a bit of a mess after all the changes, but also want to draw up a proper loom diagram for it.

Are there any free programs that will let me draw the loom up easily?

David

I have seen a good diagram done on Powerpoint, but I bet it took a while! I am interested to hear others views as I want to do this too. I have pages and pages of notes and circuit diagrams to put together into one giant diagram!

Not found a "proper" programme but I used visio for mine...

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal& amp;user=stevebubs&folder=Wiring

Can you tell what is used for these as they are even layered.? Link

VML so likely to be Visio again.

I consider what I did to be easy and useful -
I don't have a wiring diagram, instead I have a list of wires, all numbered & labelled at each end with those slip-on numbers you can get from RS & farnell.
Each wire is listed, in order, with source & destination - the list can be in XL if you like.
typical line:
#57 Relay 3 pin 58 Headlamp left main beam
The whole car was less than a hundred wires.
I find wiring diagrams a hopeless spiders web of black spaghetti - my system seems tons better.
Plus I just bouhgt 1 reel of black wire & did the whole car with it......
Bob
PS obviously you can use wire colour combos instead of numbers if that's what your loom has....

[Edited on 6/1/08 by Bob C]

Surely at the design stage you have to draw a circuit diagram first before you end up with the wiring list? I don't know if I would want to try troubleshooting from just a wiring list, i'd probably end up having to try and draw myself a diagram again first.

I agree that having one big wiring diagram can be a pig to try and traverse though. Mine are all separate small diagrams for each circuit, much simpler to follow then

I have to agree that the prospect of fault finding on a loom full of black wires would be a nightmare. It would be far better to split up the loom into various sections using colours and then having stripes of those colours running off to each appliance.
Black is for earths .... and I've got loads of them ..... and I don't need a tag to tell me either

i used XL - used the connectors tool each system was on a new tab - works well and is cheap

bit sheet of paper and pencil and eraser.

to help start the layout, take a peek at a simple circuit e.g. series Land Rover.

There is a automotive wire colour convention (forger the BS standard) so choose wires from there, VWP sell a big range of colours with tracers and guages.

I would avoid using one colour - at best keep to a minimal convention such as red or brown for 12 V, black for 0 V and mayber antoehr colour blue for other intermediate stuff. That way you should never get a short.

You would need to put on labels onto the wire to identify each end.

When I made my loom on the F1-2, I bought a "kit" of the correct colours from premier wiring, which consisted of all the correct lucas colours in short lengths.
I made my loom to a set standard, so that any auto electrician could quickly find any problems once I had sold the car.
If you have to break into the middle of a loom, at least you will be able to identify the circuits more easily.
Premier prices are good and producing a "correct" colour loom is another good idea to promote second hand "kitcars" in a good light.
Imagine you buy are car and you had a problem with a loom of all the same colour!
As to wiring diagrams, I am an Electrician, I work it out as I go along. The only drawings I consult are the engine wiring diagrams (last build K16 rover inj, this R1 inj) and any dash instruments, but that is just experience.


[Edited on 8/1/2008 by nitram38]

I found a good bit of software, much like viso, but only £25. Its called Diagram Studio, its got all the electrical bits in. I'll post up some pics when i get them done.

The front of my car is wired up properly now, with all the correct colours of wires, but its a bit of a mess and could do with tidying up.

Thanks for the input guys.

David

<<Surely at the design stage you have to draw a circuit diagram first before you end up with the wiring list? >>

there aren't many bits of car wiring that are particularly complex - mostly it's decide on a source of (fused?) 12V, run a wire to the switch & on to the "electrical thing".
I'm about to tack on the wipers, lucas motor, sierra stalks, ford "relay".... might take a bit of sorting out!
Yes the loom wires all look the same but I've never ever found it necessary to dig into the middle of the loom.
Bob