wiring looms

[BiggestNizzy]

I recently got myself some swish led rear lamps. And they come with a couple of mini looms that plug into the existing loom, its ugly and the plan is to make my own loom for the rear lights . I will use the existing connectors for the lamps and fit a 12 way dtm connector at the end of the existing loom so that I have a single connector for all the lights including reverse and fog.

The existing reverse and fog will go in the bin and I will remove that area of the rear clam for cooling .


Does anyone know where I can get the right cable and whatever it is that they cover it in so it looks professional ?

[Mikie711]

Nizzy,
used Polevolt for loads of stuff in the past. They also have the DTM connectors as well as convoluted tube or PVC sheathing. One stop shop.

[Rich H]

vehicle wiring products are old school and have pretty much everything you could ever need

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... mepage.php

[robin]

Don't forget car builder solutions (google it).

[BiggestNizzy]

Does anyone know how to work out what wattage my LED's run at ? I want to use the lightest cable (with a safety margin) and I need to know what wattage they run so I can work out the amperage on the cable .

I imagine all the elctrical people are laughing right now as I have probably used all the terms wrong.

but as I understand it

Amps = watts/voltage.(12)

[robin]

For DC circuits power = amps * current.

You need to choose your cabling based on current it consumes, not the power in the LEDs.

A 48W headlight bulb would consume, at 12V, 4A and so you would go for 5A cabling, at a minimum.

I don't know what power your LEDs are - do you have a link or similar to show what they are?

Ta,
Robin

[BiggestNizzy]

http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show ... -lamps-s1/

The information I have from eliseparts is

Power Consumption (12V):
Stop 1.7W
Tail 1.0W
Indicator 1.5W
Reverse 3.2W
Fog 3.2W

[robin]

For example:

stop power = 1.7W
stop current = 1.7 / 12 = 0.141A.

As none of the above is more than 12W and given you won't find a cable rated for automotive use at less than 1A, you can just use 1A cable for each of them.

You could need to add them together if they're supplied on common lines - most likely one side of the LEDs is common in which case you need to use a wire big enough for all lamps for that wire - so 2xstop + 2xtail + fog + reverse + 2x indicator = 3.4 + 2.0 + 3.2 + 3.2 + 3.0 = 14.8W - so a 2A cable will be more than enough for any common wire and a 1A wire will be more than enough for any wire that's connected to just one LED.

Cheers,
Robin

[ABZ-Elise]

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/ just to throw another one in there. I bought a complete new wiring loom from them for my old Alfa. The quality was spot on.

[BiggestNizzy]

Last night I pulled out the old loom, and pulled off the old reverse and fog lights my numberplate lights were looking a bit worse for wear so I have ordered a new pair of them, making my number plate more visable may not be the best move but I like things shiny.

I have ordered some nice 12 pin Deutsch DTM connectors to replace the rover 8 pin and 2 bayonnett fittings for the fog and reverse lights.

I am still pondering wither to replace all the cable with nice TE connectivity type 55A wire but that will depend on wither I can get it by the meter I am not spending £100 on a reel.

Tonights job will be to lay out the existing loom on a piece of cardboard marking up all my cable lengths and positions ready to start.

On another note the high brake light looks like it might be off some sort of SAAB

[BiggestNizzy]

My connectors arrived today deutsch dtm 12 pin. I have sourced some 0.5 dia wire that's rated to 6 amps so all being equal that leaves me a few amps safety margin on the earth cable.

I also started stripping down the original looms ( the eliseparts lamps come with slave looms) I am planning to use the existing connectors but that may change

[campbell]

On another note the high brake light looks like it might be off some sort of SAAB

That could come in handy. If SAAB hadn't collapsed a wee while back

However, perhaps it's a stock GM part...

[BiggestNizzy]

On another note the high brake light looks like it might be off some sort of SAAB

That could come in handy. If SAAB hadn't collapsed a wee while back

However, perhaps it's a stock GM part...

My money would be on a Saab 900 from the early 90's

Edited to add should anyone search for this later on the high level brake light is from a GM SAAB 900 part number 4673257

[campbell]

Elise S1:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... true&rt=nc

Saab 900 94-98:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-900-94-9 ... 3cc9ce5a83

Separated at birth?

Good effort, Nizzy!

[pete]

Do you need some shrink wrap?

Text me colours and size and I'll have a word with our tels dept tomorrow...