 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > 12V connection in Engine bay |
 
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253  
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you should ideally run the winch straight to the battery, not via elsewhere. cant speak for spots, I'm not a fan. i like thicker cable for the winch too.
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28th Mar 2011 9:31pm |
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| noworries4x4 Member Since: 24 Dec 2010 Location: Newton Abbot Devon Posts: 1195 
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For a winch connection you need to run a new separate supply direct from the battery and you can take a spot light relay supply from this new ultra heavy duty feed, i also recommend welding cable not battery cable as it conducts better If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.
Every Day 16 MY Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle Weekends 07MY L322 TDV8 Vogue SE Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl with overdrive No Worries 4X4 |
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28th Mar 2011 9:35pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17731 
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The main feed from the battery box on a Defender doesn't go to the engine bay at all - it goes into the other seatbox where the main relay and fuse arrays are.
Winch wiring (as already stated above) must be taken back the battery. For info, I used 50mm2 welding cable for my winch, with both live and earth taken straight to the battery. |
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29th Mar 2011 10:27am |
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| Marius Member Since: 21 Dec 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 231  
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But what about spotlights? Where can I get a 12V feed that will take 130W per light?
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29th Mar 2011 10:30am |
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| Eduardo Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Región Metropolitana Posts: 2110  
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Same thing Marius.
Due the consumption of a pair of 130W lightbulbs = (130/12)x2 = 22 amp, it is recommended a separate line with its own fuses and relays instead to tap something from the motor. Cheers Eduardo MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64' MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"  Click image to enlarge |
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29th Mar 2011 2:17pm |
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| Marius Member Since: 21 Dec 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 231
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Thanks Guys,
Perhaps I should finish my dual battery setup before doing the final wite connection. |
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29th Mar 2011 3:48pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Am having difficulties in understanding why welding cable conducts better then battery cable. Brendan |
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30th Mar 2011 8:56am |
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| Marius Member Since: 21 Dec 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 231
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All I can think of is: 1. thicker than 16mm2 2. higher grade copper used ...? |
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30th Mar 2011 9:28am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Battery cable can be much larger then 16mm2. Typical sizes are 35 mm2
The 35mm2 battery cable we use is rated at 240 amps, welding cable from one supplier is rated at 225 amps. So little difference in current carrying capacity, between the different cables. Brendan |
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30th Mar 2011 9:45am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17731
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Arc welding cable typically has a lareger number of smaller diameter conductors than traditional battery cable, but there will be negligible difference in current capacity between the two types (and you shouldn't be pushing either anywhere near its limit).
However, other factors in favour of welding cable are that it is usually more flexible and hence easier to route in larger sizes, and the insulation is generally tougher - very often double layer. |
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30th Mar 2011 10:34am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Like a lot of things there is a range of quality of battery cables as well as welding cable.
The 35mm2 battery cable we use is made from 460/0.3 copper whereas the 35mm2 twin flex we use is 1065/0.2 A quick google on welding cable shows CSE 35mm2 welding cable is made from 217/0.45 copper There again I have seen battery cable made from 0.9mm copper strands. Whilst I will accept that welding cable probably has better insulation then battery cable, I can not so readily accept comments that welding cable is a better conductor then battery cable or that it is more flexible. The basic current carrying capacity of a cable is defined by the material and the cross sectional area of the cable. The flexibility of a cable is defined by the material and the number and diameter of the individual strands. HTH Brendan |
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30th Mar 2011 10:13pm |
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| Paul_1978 Member Since: 08 Nov 2009 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 384 
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Welding cable is more flexable.
Can't understand why you would need to use it in an automotive application. We use welding cable in industury when we make earth clamps for earthing a high voltage supply before commencing work, mainly due to the large csa and flexability. You can get various csa of welding cable too, not just 35mm2. The current carrying capacity of a cable is also due to, Type of insulation PVC / Rubber etc.. And Instalation method, i.e enclosed or in free air, obviously a cable in free air can conduct slightly more than one covered in loft lagging. |
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31st Mar 2011 7:00am |
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| Blaserman Member Since: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 46 
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I ran two cables direct from the battery box by drilling two holes and fitting two gromets, if you take it out of the rear of the box its easy to run the cables along the top of the chassis out into the engine bay. I have fitted an isolator switch for the winch under the bonnet to stop any undesirables messing with the winch and cuting the car in half. As for the spots I will run the live feed from the permanant live on the bottom of the isolator switch, it should be relatively easy to pick up an earth on the chassis.
From memory I think I used roughly 4 metres of red and 4 metres of black standard battery cable with not alot left over. Hope this helps  |
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31st Mar 2011 7:21am |
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| Marius Member Since: 21 Dec 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 231
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Yes I'm thinking of only taking the two (12v and ground) 16mm2 cable (But now I think I should make it 32mm2?) to the front. Then from there I have a good 12V connection in the engine bay for the aux stuff. These include:
- Winch - VHF radio (45W) - Spots (130W / light) I'm also going to fuse the live with a blade fuse. What should the amp rating be consedering what amps the winch will pull at max operating condition? |
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31st Mar 2011 7:51am |
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