JekRankin
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| posted on 17/6/12 at 09:55 PM |
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Cable ties and wiring reliability
I've just been reading an article on IVA compliance I stumbled across online: Link
When I got to the section on electrics, there was a note which read something along the lines of "don't fix your loom down with cable
ties, as you'll encounter chafing issues in a couple of years. Use P-clips instead or proprietary cable mounting saddles instead"
Is this true? My plan was to rivet cable tie bases to the chassis and cable tie the loom to these. I've installed a few of them now and I think
it looks pretty neat, and of course, if I ever wish to remove the wiring I can just cut the cable tie instead of having to drill out a rivet on a
p-clip. I'm covering the harness with a slit, braided sleeving.
Should I be thinking of removing them and fitting plastic P-clips instead? - to be honest I can't really see how a securely fastened cable tie
could cause any more chafing than a p-clip?
Cheers,
Jek
[Edited on 17/6/12 by JekRankin]
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Davg
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| posted on 17/6/12 at 10:07 PM |
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Jek, I've done 4 cars same way as you are doing and works for me. Only time you would see any issues would be over tightening the cable tie so
you were nearly chopping convoluted tube.
Cheers D
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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JekRankin
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| posted on 17/6/12 at 10:16 PM |
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Cheers, that's good to know. The only difference to your method is I'm using a slit woven PVC cloth braiding rather than convoluted
tubing, but if I take care not to over tighten the cable ties, I don't think it should cause any damage to the cables inside.
Jek
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PSpirine
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 12:23 AM |
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Depends on the cable ties you get.
I've unfortunately experienced the problems with it chaffing and cutting the insulation on wires, and would advise you to just be careful where
and how tightly you clamp them.
Make sure you get cable ties which haven't got a sharp edge on the inside corners (a lot of the cheap small ones are sharp enough that if you
run your finger along the cable tie you'll get a cut) - the ones which are slightly rounded shouldn't cause any issue at all as long as
not overtightened.
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A1
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 12:49 AM |
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ive used cable ties, just over the loom tape mostly, 4 years later with lots of water and a long spell living outside, Ive had no electrical problems
whatsoever.
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Slimy38
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 04:59 AM |
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I've had similar experiences as PSpirine, cheap a55 ties that work well to cut anything you're securing with them. At the very least
they'd need something protecting the wire, but even then I suspect they would still wear through. I also find the heads don't work very
well, if you try and cut the tail off flush with the head you don't leave enough serrations (?) to provide a reliable fixing. More expensive
ties are smoother on the corners, and have an inset 'zipper', so they can be cut smooth and flush. There's nothing like an exposed
badly cut cable tie to remove skin!
The wiring p clips that I've seen have a rubber inlay and seem much more suited to the job. But the price goes well against the LCB philosophy.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 06:24 AM |
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I think a large dollop of common sense is needed manufacturers use decent quality cable ties but they always use a proper mounting bases and what
they don't do is simply cable tie straight on to a metal or sharp edged plastic part.
Flexible plastic conduit is the way to go if you want to do a good job especially where the wiring is in a particularly exposed position as it
is impossible to have the perfect size conduit for every part of the loom so if the conduit is a bit over sized then some spiral wrap over
the wires inside the conduit is a good trick.
[I] What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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DIY Si
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 08:08 AM |
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You've answered your own question to be honest.
"proprietary cable mounting saddles" are what you're already thinking of using! Cable ties are perfectly fine as long as you
don't just wrap one round a chassis member and hope for the best. Use a fixed base and you'll be fine.
Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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JekRankin
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 08:35 AM |
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Thanks all, I'll stick with the ties then, but I'll check for sharp edges on them. Not sure if they're cheapies or not - a BT repair
man gave me a couple of bags of them for free out the back of his van when he saw me working on the car one day, so I would hope they are reasonable
quality.
Just noticed that there are a few cable ties holding parts of the OEM R1 loom together.
If there's one thing I've learned about myself during this project, it's that I seem to suffer from a bit too much mechanical
anxiety!
Jek
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Gertfun
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 09:19 AM |
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I have some cable ties from a nearby helicopter manufacturer (I'm sure the wont miss them!) and they have the serrated edge on the outside so
the edge that contacts the cables are completely smooth because of chaffing issues under high vibration. Not sure who makes them but they are out
there if you are concerned about your chaffing. I'm sure if cable ties are acceptable for a helicopter then you should be fine provided as above
you mount them to appropriate bases.
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FuryRebuild
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| posted on 18/6/12 at 03:56 PM |
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I used the same system as BritistTrident.
I used 1" diameter split flexible trunking, and 1" aluminium p-clips, which were attached to the chassis using self-tapping screws. Whilst
I hate screwing into the chassis, at least I'm replacing metal with solid metal (unlike a rivet) and it's demountable.
p-clips have a nice rounded edge, no chance of chaffing. Also, steer clear of insulating tape to hold it together, the adhesive doesn't do well
in the heat of an engine bay. there's proper harness tape if you need it.
When mine went through SVA I started to get a little nervous because the inspector brought over his boss to look at it, but he was pointing out that
this is the right way to do it.
When all you have is a hammer, everything around you is a nail.
www.furyrebuild.co.uk
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A1
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| posted on 19/6/12 at 02:47 AM |
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spiral wrap is very good, amazing how much poo it stops getting in
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