Hiding The Wiring in VN

[Nevyn]

Hi all......I'm looking to hide the wiring in the engine bay of me Vn. I've got everything worked out where its going other than the fusebox in the bay. From what I've been able to find is that everyone seems it locate it in the glovebox. Thats not an option for me as this car will be a daily driver, and the glovebox will be used. Has anyone done this with putting the fusebox somewhere else?...Is it feesable to locate it in the boot?

[PanthaVS]

The fusebox has a LOT of wires going to it...

therefore, locating it to the boot is not a good idea. although it IS possible, the thickness of the loom and amount of wire required, would be physically large, and you will incur things like voltage drops over the length of the cables, as well as a capacitance or inductance effect. so not a wise idea.

if you cant locate it to the glovebox, maybe you can locate it where the other fuse panel is, under the steering column? theres already a ****load of wire there already though, so it would be a long messy process...

otherwise... im fresh outta ideas?

as you said, most use the glove box, i'm modding a hilux with a holden V8 and rewiring the bay to hide all wires, (running looms inside the side guards, not in the bay) and the fuse box will be in the glove box, but ill be destroying the original box, so its only a lid that opens up to see a custom fuse panel and relay bay.

[kopper69]

The fusebox has a LOT of wires going to it...

therefore, locating it to the boot is not a good idea. although it IS possible, the thickness of the loom and amount of wire required, would be physically large, and you will incur things like voltage drops over the length of the cables, as well as a capacitance or inductance effect. so not a wise idea.

if you cant locate it to the glovebox, maybe you can locate it where the other fuse panel is, under the steering column? theres already a ****load of wire there already though, so it would be a long messy process...

Its not too bad. You dont have to go much thicker than factory wiring as you arent going any considerable distance. Its DC too, so capacitance and inductance is not really a big concern. Just a LOT of wires to do, if you have the time and patients though, no reason it cant be done.

[Nevyn]

Thanks for the responses fellas. I think by the time I sort out which wires will need to go to the boot it should reduce the thickness a bit. I'll have a good chat with a local sparky about loss of voltage and if it will be a drama....I'm thinking the biggest problem will be getting the thickness of the wires into the boot behind the back seat if I follow the way of the tail light wires. Might be best to run it behind the back seat and into the boot through the big opening there....I'm still hoping I can find someone who has already done it....If I succeed I'll put some photos up.

[bigred304]

haha dude you wouldnt even be able to measure the amount of voltage drop youd get over a run of that distance. As long as you dont downsize the cable you will be sweet. I think he has just heard those words used before so he's tryin to sound tricky by throwin them around. If u have the time an patience then why not. But honestly ... voltage drop would be no issue in your case.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Ummmm...hellooooo....shut the bonnet....wiring hidden.

[kopper69]

haha dude you wouldnt even be able to measure the amount of voltage drop youd get over a run of that distance. As long as you dont downsize the cable you will be sweet. I think he has just heard those words used before so he's tryin to sound tricky by throwin them around. If u have the time an patience then why not. But honestly ... voltage drop would be no issue in your case.

It can easily be measured, it will be a factor and no its not just some words that he has used to try and sound tricky.

[bigred304]

It can easily be measured, it will be a factor and no its not just some words that he has used to try and sound tricky.

an you think a run of less than 3 or 4 meters is ganna have an effect ... i find that hard to believe. it would be a very very small amount of loss, not something that is goin to change the way your relays an fuses work. Im not tryin to have a personal attack at the bloke, but it just isnt something that needs to be a concern in a case like this...
As kooper said, this is DC he is workin with here, it acts alot different to the standard AC type applications where we have to account for inductance an losses ect.

[kopper69]

If the wire isnt thick enough you will get a loss of maybe several volts. Using the same gauge will proably get you a loss of about 1V. The more current the circuit uses the higher the loss will be. Wiring it up wouldnt be something you want to redo because you havent used a thick enough wire. You wouldnt want something like your abs, which draws a lot of current but is rarely used, to play up when you go to use it because you have used an insufficient gauge of wire. You may not have a second chance to rewire it.

[Reaper]

Is there enough space to shove it up under the guard between the inner guard and the plastic wheel arch inner just behind the indicator?

Reaper

[Nevyn]

Is there enough space to shove it up under the guard between the inner guard and the plastic wheel arch inner just behind the indicator?

Reaper

that maybe something worth looking at, I'll let you know.....as for the voltage drop (and I'm not big on big words that tend to part me hair), I believe if I use wire maybe twice the gauge of the factory wiring I should be able to get away with it, the only downside of that is all them wires is going to make one hell of a thick cable. So is it possible to find out the exact amount of voltage each relay uses? That way I may just be able to use certain gauge thickness to certain relays....any thoughts...and thanks for all the interest....except 1, but it gave me a laugh

[bigred304]

ask kopper69, he seems to know everythin. After all, i am just a dumb sparky lol, what would i know... goodluck

[Bz Kn33z]

lol classic haha, i wouldnt put it anywhere i couldnt get to it in a hurry or have it somewhere its hard to get to cause vn fuse boxes are stuffed and faulty after time they play up alot, and the relays and fuses click on and off, move the battery to the boot and put the box down there.

[Tasmaniak]

you stated it right...your a dumb sparky. Get out of the trade while you still know everything!.

Something you have to bear in mind is that not everything in the car is 12Volts. Majority of your sensors run on 5volts as a reference and even less as an input back to the ECU. Reducing this smaller voltage can change the way the engine behaves. Although we are only talking about the fusebox here....it's things like this that you need to bear in mind.

[Nevyn]

I'm looking to move the battery to the boot as well now, but get a dry cell one.....as to where it will be in the boot, it will be easy to get to as not a lot of stuff will be in there

[stocky]

some people hide the fusebox in the drivers side kick panel

[Nevyn]

some people hide the fusebox in the drivers side kick panel

I've heard that before, but its got me buggered as to how they get it to fit, and I haven't ben able to find any photos of it there. And apart from that, I think the ABS computer will be in the way there.......
you still got them doors Stocky?, sorry I haven't buzzed ya, been flat out the last week or so.

[stocky]

yeah theyre still here. will hold them for you

[kopper69]

that maybe something worth looking at, I'll let you know.....as for the voltage drop (and I'm not big on big words that tend to part me hair), I believe if I use wire maybe twice the gauge of the factory wiring I should be able to get away with it, the only downside of that is all them wires is going to make one hell of a thick cable. So is it possible to find out the exact amount of voltage each relay uses? That way I may just be able to use certain gauge thickness to certain relays....any thoughts...and thanks for all the interest....except 1, but it gave me a laugh

All fuses and relays in the VN are run off 12V and will switch 12V circuits, so its not the voltage you need to worry about, but the current. The fuse for the circuit will give you an idea of how much current the wire will carry. Lets take the horn circuit for example. The horn has a 15A fuse. Calculate the distance of wire that you are going to use and assume that 15A is going to go down that wire. Next find a website that uses a chart that allows you to match the current through the wire and distance the wire has to go to tell you the gauge of wire you need. There are plenty of sites around, here is one Wire Loss Tables (note the distance is in feet - remember to make conversion). So lets say 16A (to make things easy), 22ft (6.7 metres) - We would need a 6awg wire to have a loss of around 3%. The smaller the wire, the greater the loss. You shouldnt have to double the factory stuff, just a little bit bigger will keep things going strong. Remember too that there is no point having thicker wiring if you have poor joins. Keep those joins neat, tight and clean.

Most of the circuits have a 20A fuse, so decide what gauge wire you need and buy a heap of that, preferably in different colours to make wiring easy. For circuits that dont draw as much power or may rarely use, like the horn, you can use a smaller wire if you find that you need to save a bit on space. If not, just stick with the same guage that you are using for the 20A circuits.

[RVN 355]

LOTS OF SPARKYS ON here,i agree A cable able to carry 20A which meets the current carrying capacity is fine,vd wont effect this d/c application. As long as the main + - to the battery is sufficient will be no dramas.

[PanthaVS]

wow... i threw some ideas in, and i cant believe how much **** has hit the fan!

HAHAHA!

all good though... the original guy who posted is getting lots of info! so i guess its a good thing! :-)

[Nevyn]

wow... i threw some ideas in, and i cant believe how much **** has hit the fan!

HAHAHA!

all good though... the original guy who posted is getting lots of info! so i guess its a good thing! :-)

I certainly am.....I'll need a few days brain rest soon.......but I am getting the full idea of what I am in for......glad I enjoy a challenge thou....thanks for the ideas and info on all this, all is coming in very very handy....

[Nevyn]

yeah theyre still here. will hold them for you

Thanks stocky.....if I sell the reco head I've got I'll be there sooner

[rawsonn]

haha dude you wouldnt even be able to measure the amount of voltage drop youd get over a run of that distance. As long as you dont downsize the cable you will be sweet. I think he has just heard those words used before so he's tryin to sound tricky by throwin them around. If u have the time an patience then why not. But honestly ... voltage drop would be no issue in your case.

i tend agree with the guy above and not you im afraid.

yes you would be able to see it, yes it would be best to reconsider it, if you must do what you doing now speak to people find out what you can, and if your not experianced enough dont feel bad getting a sparky in even i need professionals time to time

[bigred304]

i tend agree with the guy above and not you im afraid.

yes you would be able to see it, yes it would be best to reconsider it, if you must do what you doing now speak to people find out what you can, and if your not experianced enough dont feel bad getting a sparky in even i need professionals time to time

I am a sparky. I wouldnt make suggestions i didnt feel strongly about. Wires is what i do. Im not here to fight/argue, so ill leave it at that ... maybe speak to other people, get advice from an auto elec.