Red, Red Wire.

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 12:27 am

I need to replace the red wire to one of my indicators as the old one has become brittle.

I need to find out what kind of wire it is so that I can replace it.

Now, I am not an electrician so as you can imagine, the wiring diagrams etc for the car make as much sense as I do after 5 pints.

I have measured the wire and it is around 1mm so I had a look on ebay and found this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1mm-1-5mm-2-5 ... 27f006f858

Would it be the 16 amp I need or is that too high?

Help!!!

P.S.
I have just renewed my membership and would like to get as much value for money from it as possible so can I have lots of replies please.

They don't necessarily have to be helpful or even on topic for that matter.

If this isn't possible can I at least have tumble weed that plays a pretty tune as it rolls by.

Thankyou.

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:01 pm

Martin

Have a look at the dia of the wire inside the insulation and something close to that will do. Be very careful to connect the wire the correct way around, don't want the current flowing the wrong way

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:17 pm

Thanks for the reply Mal and the info.
I thought I was heading for tumbleweed central.

The wire core is around 1mm so I will order some of what is in the link and hopefully it will be ok.

I have been told that the wire has little arrow marks on it telling you which way around it should go. As they have made it practically fool proof I should be ok.

I have been told though that I have to be careful when I lay the wire.
Apparently, if the incline is above 1 in 5 I will have to fit a volt pump in the middle of the wire to help the electricity get up the hill.

Post by **gvickery** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:31 pm

Martin. I can't help with the techie aspect but I sure like the running commentary, and thanks for signing up for another year!!

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:09 pm

Martin,

If you're unsure of wire sizes then check these people out:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

Hope it helps!

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:53 pm

Growler wrote:Martin,

If you're unsure of wire sizes then check these people out:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

Hope it helps!

Thank you Graham and thank you for the link Growler.

Strangely, they are only about a 20 minute drive from my house, which is nice.

I can't help but think though that their first question will be to ask what amperage I want.
I'll take my remnant along and see if they can help.

Just to add, the wire is to the side light, not the actual indictor.

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:03 am

martin172 wrote:Thanks for the reply Mal and the info.
I thought I was heading for tumbleweed central.

The wire core is around 1mm so I will order some of what is in the link and hopefully it will be ok.

I have been told that the wire has little arrow marks on it telling you which way around it should go. As they have made it practically fool proof I should be ok.

I have been told though that I have to be careful when I lay the wire.
Apparently, if the incline is above 1 in 5 I will have to fit a volt pump in the middle of the wire to help the electricity get up the hill.

Martin, a word of warning. If you do fit a volt pump don't forget to fit the anti drain back volt valve in case you drive down a steep incline. You don't wont a sudden power surge to blow your bulbs.

Cheers Mal

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:38 am

Mal wrote:
martin172 wrote:Thanks for the reply Mal and the info.
I thought I was heading for tumbleweed central.

The wire core is around 1mm so I will order some of what is in the link and hopefully it will be ok.

I have been told that the wire has little arrow marks on it telling you which way around it should go. As they have made it practically fool proof I should be ok.

I have been told though that I have to be careful when I lay the wire.
Apparently, if the incline is above 1 in 5 I will have to fit a volt pump in the middle of the wire to help the electricity get up the hill.

Martin, a word of warning. If you do fit a volt pump don't forget to fit the anti drain back volt valve in case you drive down a steep incline. You don't wont a sudden power surge to blow your bulbs.

Cheers Mal

It's a good point you make.

I have a sealed battery so hopefully it won't be able to leak out of that end.

Perhaps I could tie a piece of string around the wire and this will slow down the flow for now while I get my hands on a volt valve.

I wonder if this is a problem that BMWs have?
It would explain why their indicators never work.

Having said that, I was once told that the indicator stalk is on BMWs options list.

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:32 pm

Don't forget that off side lights have wire core wound clockwise, and anti clockwise on nearside. Got to keep it original. Do you have colour code for the red insulation?

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 4:30 pm

bigbob wrote:Don't forget that off side lights have wire core wound clockwise, and anti clockwise on nearside. Got to keep it original. Do you have colour code for the red insulation?

Righty tighty, lefty loosy.

Do they swap it over for left hookers I wonder.

I've had a look at all the colour charts I can find and the closest colour match is Vauxhall Gold Starfire.
This may be because the wire is a little grimy, but so is the wire on the other side, so for consistency, that is what I'm going for.

Brad1380 · Post by **Brad1380** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 6:11 pm

11 amp would be ok as well. Have a look at 12voltplannet they may be cheaper.

http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/11-amp-si ... cable.html

Don't forget the vent valve on the live line.

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 6:15 pm

Thanks for the link Brad.

Only 28p a metre. That's almost obscene.

Brad1380 · Post by **Brad1380** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:04 am

They also do a crimp tool for bullet connectors at a reasonable price.