Anyone recommend some good wiring websites?

[BladeRunner80]

I've been thinking about adding extras electric devices and maybe filling in some of the large holes with a cigarette adapter. Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone knows any websites with good reference materials for wiring basic electric stuff into cars, like what size of fuses to use, wiring switches and what not. I bought "Managing RV Electric" or something like that. I read a post where it was recommended. I've got some free time while I paint my cruiser and wanted to read up on this stuff, its been a long time since I've messed around with wiring this kind of stuff.

Thanks!

 

[Degnol]

I like this site and you can learn a lot without having to buy anything, but their schtuff looks A-1

Ed



http://www.madelectrical.com/index.shtml

 

[BladeRunner80]

Cool, thanks I'll check it out

 

[Kofoed]

Haynes puts out an automotive eletrical manual, which provides basic concepts and practices. Good entry-level info

 

[Pin_Head]

There isn't htat much to adding new circuits to feed new devices. You look up out how much power they use (watts) and then divide this number by 12 (volts) to determine how many amps they will use. Add a little extra to determine what fuse to use and then look up what wire size to use for a particular amp range.

MADelectric has some useful information, but many of their products are solutions to things that aren't really problems.

 

[TMACK]

http://www.ronfrancis.com/

 

[fullm00ner]

The trick is to....

The trick to doing quality electrical work on a vehicle or anything else for that matter is having the right tools.... and a few tricks....
MUST HAVS
strippers (Good ones Klien or IDEAL) 30$
Soldering Iron (if it looks like a gun its not a good one)
What you want in a good Iron is a temperature selectable unit with changable tips and a wet pad for tip cleaning. around 80$
W/P heat shrink... the expensive kind with glue on the inside.

wire and fusing holders can be bought for the intended use at any electronics supply store....
A basic understanding of relays is also a good place to start....
Anything you see in your cruiser that you want to copy you can do even as far as making factory connections using special crimp tools right to red quick clips for warn winches that are found at forklift supply places.....
Anyhow one of the "Tricks" is to measure out your wire cut to length and then put one end in a vise and the other in a cordless drill pull out the wire straight then in high speed spin the wire untill it almost twists on itself.... this is a good way to make looms that are easy to understand and troubleshoot.
a good rule of thumb is if you can feel heat from whatever it is you are hooking up you need at least a #14 wire.... if its hot like fog lamps etc a #12....
Anyhow you get the point if ever you need specific advise or pictures just let us know.
Cheers
Chris.

(Industrial & Control Electrician)