Armored electrical cable on the outside of the body?

[Otto Von Squiggy]

Has anybody ever run armored electrical cableing on the outside of their rig?

I would like to put in a converter, fridge, 110v standard plugs, 12v cigarette plugs in multiple places throughout the vehicle. (think snook)

I would you think its easier to not to run it inside the frame and you could have it come out whereever you wanted to inisde the car. one concern woud be weather and rust. I would like to here comments on that as well.

Thanks
Squiggy

 

[CappyKD]

Just run it under the carpets, it is much cleaner, easier and safer. You can fit 2 or three 2 gauge cables down the drivers side then just install your invertor behind the panel near the jack, put an accessory fuse block in there and you've got power a plenty..

 

[photogod]

Dont use solid wire in a vehicle. Use the proper ga. wire. Welding cable or marine cable works best.

 

[-Spike-]

I'd be concerned that the 'armored' (metallic conduit) cable isn't watertight, nor armored. In fact, the insulation could conceivably be worn away on the conduit. I'd say 'no way'.

-Spike

 

[Josh83]

Running wiring inside the frame is a PITA and there are gussets inside some frames that can chafe the wire and cause a short. I would definately run the wiring inside the body.

 

[Otto Von Squiggy]

so that is 4 for inside that car, anyothers?

 

[jasonmt]

Teck90 is waterproof armored cable designed for industrial applications that comes in stranded varieties:

That being said while it may be technically feasible there are other alternatives that in my mind are both of the easier and cheaper categories. I would rather run a large cable from the battery/batteries to a centrally fused distribution block and then ran in suitably sized conductors to the accessories:

 

[firetruck41]

Run from the battery, through the firewall, and down along the side, under the door threshold trim, use the appropriate gauge wire for your application, fuse the cable a few inches from the battery.

 

[volts911]

Home depot sells liquid tite armered flexible conduit, it has a gray rubber jacket.
It won't rust and you can also get compression connector's with 45&90 degree

 

[450 DUDE]

I ran my # 2 through the frame rail (welding wire) and jacketed it with a silicone coated fiberglass.
It wasn't difficult , for smaller wire I would say run it on the inside for sure.

As far as that household armored stuff no way.


ken

 

[Marine7]

Definetly keep it inside! Just make sure on your run from the battery to the rear quarters, once you take your trim off, and roll the carpet back, to identify other existing wires. You Do Not want to run that cable next to any kind of existing audio or video wiring......run it on the opposite side of you have to. Otherwise your looking at possible interference issues.

 

[Marine7]

AND NOW I noticed this was from 2007! I guess you have it figured out by now! Lol

 

[danthman114]

I wouldn't use it.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

SO cord inside the frame would be my choice. GFCI protected no matter what means of wiring used.