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Author: Subject: a few quick questions on wire thickness
omega0684

posted on 27/10/10 at 06:38 PM Reply With Quote
a few quick questions on wire thickness

evening all,

i am looking to add in an FIA cut off switch in the car, from my understanding of the wiring diagram i need a cable to run from the battery to one side of the switch and from the opposite side i need to run 1) a cable to the starter motor, 2)a cable to the ignition barrel and 3) anything else that i want to run with a perminant 12v. e.g horn.

now im not sure what size cable i need to run for either of the sides of the switch, so can anyone shed any light.

the switch is a 1000amp FIA Approved cut off switch (but im sure the starter won't be using in excess of 1000 amps)

so what currents should i expect to see in the following wires.

1)from Battery to Cut off switch (During and not during cranking)

2)from the switch to the starter motor (current during cranking, (at a guess 200-300amps???))

3)the size of the cable needed from the switch to the igntion barrel (i would hazard a guess and say 16amp should be fine?)

thanks in advance for any help

Alex





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Mr Whippy

posted on 27/10/10 at 06:44 PM Reply With Quote
won't be any higher than what's written on the battery

at a guess 350 - 400 amps would be as high as you'd normally expect





Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet

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sebastiaan

posted on 27/10/10 at 07:04 PM Reply With Quote
As a (very) rough guide, you need around 1mm^2 of wire cross-section per 5-10A. No idea how much that is in SWG.

Use 1mm^2 per 5A for continuous loads (lights, etc.) and 1mm^2 per 10A for intermittent loads (horn)

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Strontium Dog

posted on 27/10/10 at 07:38 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
evening all,

i am looking to add in an FIA cut off switch in the car, from my understanding of the wiring diagram i need a cable to run from the battery to one side of the switch and from the opposite side i need to run 1) a cable to the starter motor, 2)a cable to the ignition barrel and 3) anything else that i want to run with a perminant 12v. e.g horn.

now im not sure what size cable i need to run for either of the sides of the switch, so can anyone shed any light.

the switch is a 1000amp FIA Approved cut off switch (but im sure the starter won't be using in excess of 1000 amps)

so what currents should i expect to see in the following wires.

1)from Battery to Cut off switch (During and not during cranking)

2)from the switch to the starter motor (current during cranking, (at a guess 200-300amps???))

3)the size of the cable needed from the switch to the igntion barrel (i would hazard a guess and say 16amp should be fine?)

thanks in advance for any help

Alex


You will be fine with 16mm cable from battery and 10mm to alternator IIRC as long as it is not a long run ie. battery in boot, I use welding cable as it is cheaply available and super flexi for ease of routing!

You may find there is more to it than you have described as the alternator may well back feed and keep the engine running even with the battery disconnected!

The cranking amps is dependant on the starters rating. The alternator upon it's rated output. Volts/Resistance=Watts and Watts/Volts=amps

You are only cranking for a short time (hopefully) and don't need a cable that is rated to the max current as the duty cycle is so low.

I fuse the battery in my boot at 150A and then a fuse in the bay at 100A. Works fine unless you try to start it in gear! I carry a spare fuse

Many edits as I have a woolly head!
[Edited on 27/10/10 by Strontium Dog]

[Edited on 27/10/10 by Strontium Dog]

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Chippy

posted on 27/10/10 at 10:39 PM Reply With Quote
Don't know if it's allowed, but the easiest way is to fit the switch in the earth lead, that shuts everything down and it's just one wire. HTH Ray





To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy

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