36 replies to this topic

[Dolly 89]

mini danny what size cable is the cable that you have it should say on it in mm

i dont think i can use it its a solid wire not smaller wires wrapped together but it 1-2mm think

personally i wouldnt use it as its much easier to snap a single cable it sounds like it is twin and earth cable for a house right? and you need at least 2mm cable but personally i would go for 2.5mm if you can get it from anywhere

[pikey7]

you don't ever use solid core wire on a car. It's not rated for it, bad for vibrations, and you can't crimp it correctly.

same as you never use household cable on a car.

get some proper stuff! It's not like it's expensive...

edit: if you need it today, you can get a reel of proper stuff from halfords or motor factors. It'll have the amperage rating written on it.

edit edit: DON'T go by size on cables. you need to read the rating. Materials can differ so a 2mm cable of one manufacturer isn't necessarily the same as a 2mm cable from another.

Edited by pikey7, 19 October 2010 - 10:11 AM.

[Hekmat]

you don't ever use solid core wire on a car. It's not rated for it, bad for vibrations, and you can't crimp it correctly.

same as you never use household cable on a car.

get some proper stuff! It's not like it's expensive...

edit: if you need it today, you can get a reel of proper stuff from halfords or motor factors. It'll have the amperage rating written on it.

edit edit: DON'T go by size on cables. you need to read the rating. Materials can differ so a 2mm cable of one manufacturer isn't necessarily the same as a 2mm cable from another.

The previous owner of my car has used some household lighting wires and they burnt as soon as they had a short.

[DAVEY_C]

i have my 12v power suply socket in my hand, i have to fit it but it came with a metre of wire.... there is no size wrote on the wire but what is wrote is as follows:

600v
18awg
105deg c
it is aprox 2mm thick and multi strand cable

hope that can clear up confusion.....

[pikey7]

one would assume that an automotive power socket came with automotive grade wiring and at a decent enough rating to suit.

18awg is 0.82mm2, so a normal quality cable will be good for about 13A

[DAVEY_C]

thats what i thought so im sure halfrauds or somewhere could suply it....
i was overlooking the purpose of the inline fuse myself but it makes sence to get one. if i can't take off the fuse box i hope to strip a live to the ignition, solder all wires needed together and insulate with some heat shrink tube.....

[frenchie851]

I went out in the mini for lunch from work and thought I would have look at the stereo, pull on it a little and it just slide out so that is my new plan to connect it to the wiring behind the stereo.

Any suggestions on the amp of in-line fuse I would need to use to connect here?

[mini danny]

what ampage of cable would ill need ???

[Dolly 89]

what ampage of cable would ill need ???

as long as you pop an inline fuse in aslong as it can handle more than the fuse it will be fine but i always make sure there is a good tolerance so for what you are using i would make sure it is capable of atleast 18Amps

[mini danny]

what ampage of cable would ill need ???

as long as you pop an inline fuse in aslong as it can handle more than the fuse it will be fine but i always make sure there is a good tolerance so for what you are using i would make sure it is capable of atleast 18Amps

so this is more than enough clicky is the next one above 18

[DAVEY_C]

that looks way too big, you won't need anything near battery supply size, if you ask in halfords and told them what you need it for they would be able to point you in the right direction....

[pikey7]

17A is enough. and start with a 10A inline fuse. most items that go into a cigarette lighter are fused 5A anyway so...

[Carlos W]

avoid "snappers" or scotchlocks like the plague. they will split the insulation, don't protect the wire anymore, and leave it open to corrosion, which will eventually have an effect on what the original source wire powered (not good if it's a live coming straight from the fusebox). If you want to do it "properly", either use a proper insulated crimp connection, or use a piggyback spade connector to come directly off the fusebox.

Totally agree, they are the route of all evil!

[mini danny]

that looks way too big, you won't need anything near battery supply size, if you ask in halfords and told them what you need it for they would be able to point you in the right direction....

i work in halfords

[DAVEY_C]

haha... oh sorry.... in that case i'm sure you'll fine a suitable cable, the wire on mine is no bigger than your speaker wire..... i'll have to pop down to halfords too for a fuse/holder and a bit more wire....