Steve Lovelock
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 07:40 AM |
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Wiring from engine bay to dash?
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?
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Macbeast
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 08:05 AM |
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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
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turbodisplay
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 08:36 AM |
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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
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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turbodisplay
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 08:46 AM |
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I`ll try to show my pannel if i can find the camera
Darren
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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Macbeast
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 08:47 AM |
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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.
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turbodisplay
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 08:54 AM |
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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
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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RazMan
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 11:11 AM |
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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.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 01:20 PM |
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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.
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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BenB
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 02:25 PM |
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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...)...
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iscmatt
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| posted on 17/3/07 at 06:07 PM |
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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
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