What wiring should I use for Electrics in the Van.

[pictonroad]

Hi all,

I want to put some more lights and a cigarette lighter socket or two in the van. What wire should I use, mains cable from B&Q? or does it have to be special caravan stuff?

Cheers

James

[Grun]

Hi pictonroad,
Do it right, use automotive wire and fuses. I am no electrical expert, but someone who is may well offer advice later.
My automotive electrical manual lists the following common wire sizes/amperage/and use.

14/.03 cable size carries 8.75 amps for general applications, park and tail lamps, radio cassettes etc.
28/.03 cable size carries 17.5 amps for headlamps, horns, heated rear windows.
44/.03 cable size carries 25.5 amps.
65/.03 cable size carries 35 amps.
84/.03 cable size carries 42amps

The cable size is number of strands (ie 14,28 etc) and the .03 is the strand diameter in mm.

Fuse rating should be lower than the load the cable is rated to carry.

So you will have to work out the max amps you will use on each circuit and then use a wire and fuse to suit. Always go for the next larger wire size to be safe. Halfords or motor factors should have wire and should offer advice if you ask.

This is just general advice to give you a basic steer. I'm a novice too.

Mike

[ghost123uk]

Good advice there from Mike

Couple more points...

Always fit the fuses as close to the source of power as possible ( battery or existing fuse box )

Think about what you want to run off the main battery, and what to run off the spare.

Make notes with bits of sticky tape on both ends of the wire to say where it goes and what it does, this saves allot of head scratching by you, or any new owner in the future, should sumat need attention. Then make the same notes in the back of your Haynes, again for future reference.

Earth things to the nearest bit of bright metal on the body, saves having earthing wires that arn't necessary.

E D I T = Oh and use "chocky block" connectors where necessary, not those horrid crimp thingies, but make sure no bits of wire are sticking out !!

[pictonroad]

Cheers guys

I've bought a fuse box from JK, going to be running 16w internal light, 12v socket for phone chargers, map light etc and maybe an extra reading light for the rear, all from the leisure battery.

Also, I'm going to put in new wiring for the headunit, the original doesn't look much cop might stick in a circuit for an amp too even though I don't want one yet...

Halfords it is then what about GSF?

[Grun]

pictonroad,
Don't know about GSF my nearest is about 40 miles away, and can't see any electrical cable on their website. I would always use GSF in preference, perhaps give them a bell?

Thanks to ghost123uk for more useful advice for me to learn from. Learning something new every day, is someones signature on the forum isn't it?
Mike

["WEAZLECHIN"]

you can do it when you b & q it!!

[Grun]

you can do it when you b & q it!!

Not in this case "You'll screw it if you B & Q it" more like.

Thats unless B & Q sell car electrical cable, never seen it in this neck of the woods!!

Mike

["WEAZLECHIN"]

b&q is good if you dont know anything at all about being ripped off !!!!!!!

[DiscoDave]

B &Q do however sell flex, and a damn site cheaper than "automotive wire" if you go down this route it is sized by overall cross section !.5mm will be suitable for most things in your van, except an amp, you will need to get something even heavier duty, i had a 50mm tri rated cable for all mine when they were in, but it'll depend on what size amp you are oputting in!

also crimps are fine if you use the correct ones for the job though for straight joints and splits use solder and heat shrink sleeveing!!

[Andyvandy]

1.5mm cable is suitable for up to 2KW (2000 Watts)

It is commonly used on electric fires up to 2KW rating etc.

I've got stacks of the stuff. Shame you aren't closer then you could have had some of mine.


Andy

[Grun]

Andy,
As I explained in my post to try to help James (pictonroad), I am a relative novice and always anxious to learn.

!.5 sq.mm cable will supply 2000 watts at 230 volts. That is 8.7 amps. which at 12 volts is only 104.4 watts.

Or am I way out in my calculations?

Mike.

[dbroada]

try http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.u ... /home.html fr both cable and a cross check on wire size against capacity.

[Dan Wood]

supply 2000 watts at 230 volts. That is 8.7 amps. which at 12 volts is only 104.4 watts.

Or am I way out in my calculations?

Sounds about right to me (for purely resistive loads). It's best to talk in terms of current handling rather than power to avoid this sort of confusion.

After all, in the end it's the current that will heat the wires up and burn your van!

[Grun]

Dan Wood wrote

After all, in the end it's the current that will heat the wires up and burn your van!

Dan, thanks, that is exactly what I was trying to work around to. I think is is very difficult for the average DIYer to grasp that a cable that can safely supply a 2000 watt (2KW) electric heater would only be good for 100 watts in a vehicle.
There also seem to be many ways to classify cable. Cross section in square mm, number of strands/diameter of strand in mm, AWG, SWG, current carrying capacity.
I always pick up a reel or two of car wire when in French supermarkets.

I try now to quote chapter and verse when trying to help, although we all use short cuts from time to time.

Mike

[pictonroad]