Auto leccy for morons

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D90mitch

D90mitch

Well-Known Member
Posts
2,419
Location
Sometimes Peterborough, Sometimes Hatfield
I am wanting to learn more about auto electrics - just basic stuff as there are a few things I want to put into my 90 but don't know how or want to pay what it would cost. Would prefer to do it myself anyway! The first thing I want to do is install an interior light as I don't have one :| So if anyone knows a good website for the basics of vehicle electrics please show me! Have indeed searched but everything I can find is for modern vehicles or splicing the connections onto something else. I need to learn to do it from scratch.

Thanks again :)
 
Best off learning basic electrics. Run a high quality fused cable into the cab stick a blade fuse box on the end then run x power cables where you need them earthing to body!
 
Notice you're Peterborough... if you want a bit of a drive over to Northampton i'll happily show you everything you want to do and do it all with you to do the bits you want, then you'll know how to do it yourself next time :)
 
It's really not that difficult and the electrics on an old fender are very basic. I've just learned by doing. It may not necessarily be right but I've just always made sure that the wirings up to the job and its got the correct fuse rating on it. Oh and use proper connections too, none of this twist and insulation tape nonsense and definitely no scotchblocks
 
the_wolf said:
It's really not that difficult and the electrics on an old fender are very basic. I've just learned by doing. It may not necessarily be right but I've just always made sure that the wirings up to the job and its got the correct fuse rating on it. Oh and use proper connections too, none of this twist and insulation tape nonsense and definitely no scotchblocks
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as long as you understand your cable loadings, fuse ratings and the principles of how to run cables then yeah, its simple. I do see a lot of total bodge jobs though, cables to thin, routed across moving parts e.t.c. so you need to be competent and have a decent level of ability as well, not everyone is cut out for electrics...
 
I did mech eng at uni, and the one module I really struggled with was electronics - I hated it!!

Like the OP, I'm just not confident with it, but find like anything, you need to 'have a go', and in some cases, learn the hard way.

To the OP

Obviously ensure you stay away from moving parts, and use grommets where cables could rub and short out. Always use a lower-rated fuse than the wire you use too.

The nearer the fuse to the battery, the more of the circuit (and LR) you protect - I learnt that while fitting amps/subs over a decade ago.

I can't get my head around when are where you should use relays though!

Tom
 
LRD90tdi said:
I can't get my head around when are where you should use relays though!
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In very simple terms, and specific to what you'll likely to be doing in a Land Rover... if the item you are switching on and off with a switch on the dash is a big powerful thing (this includes light bars, etc) then use a relay, so, the current running through the switch is next to nothing and all the big cables are kept short straight to the battery (via relay) and kept away from the dash.

Other examples are where you want say the ignition to turn on something else slightly power hungry too - ignition wires are thing and not designed to power stuff, just activate relays, so, stick a relay in to detect when the ignition is on / off then connect your other stuff to that.
 
oxides said:
You could start here:-
Electronics Basics: Fundamentals of Electricity - For Dummies
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]

Lol I aint that daft - I did say I could build a PC

Thanks for your offer Bump, I will see if I can find a manual as suggested and have a go first. When I do things I prefer to do them properly :) If I was going to be having anything heavy duty wired up like a winch for example, I would have that done at a shop, I am just wanting to do some minor things. Changed the bulbs in the dash today to LED ^^ though I only found out after I started that the clock bulb is different :mad: so 3 nice bright blue LED dials and then one dim green one at the end! Oh well it will still look better than it was!

I am doing auto engineering at uni starting sept if I pass me A - levels :) four exams left!
 
D90mitch said:
]

Lol I aint that daft - I did say I could build a PC

Thanks for your offer Bump, I will see if I can find a manual as suggested and have a go first. When I do things I prefer to do them properly :) If I was going to be having anything heavy duty wired up like a winch for example, I would have that done at a shop, I am just wanting to do some minor things. Changed the bulbs in the dash today to LED ^^ though I only found out after I started that the clock bulb is different :mad: so 3 nice bright blue LED dials and then one dim green one at the end! Oh well it will still look better than it was!

I am doing auto engineering at uni starting sept if I pass me A - levels :) four exams left!
Click to expand...

You did say from scratch! Spend a bit of time looking at vehicle wiring diagrams - the series ones are as simple as they get - and see if you can work out how the wiring is organised. Don't look at a modern car first 'cos it'll frighten the nadgers off you. They're an exercise in shared lives and earths and using the minimum amount of wire possible!
 
D90mitch said:
]

Changed the bulbs in the dash today to LED ^^ though I only found out after I started that the clock bulb is different :mad: so 3 nice bright blue LED dials and then one dim green one at the end! Oh well it will still look better than it was!
Click to expand...

you need a BA7S for the clock ;) I know cos I did mine this week. Loads on eblag including LED options.

as for the leccy stuff, just use a bit of common sense about fuses, cable thicknesses and using relays for high draw items and you'll be fine. and make sure you've got fire insurance... :eek:
 
D90mitch said:
]

Lol I aint that daft - I did say I could build a PC

Thanks for your offer Bump, I will see if I can find a manual as suggested and have a go first. When I do things I prefer to do them properly :) If I was going to be having anything heavy duty wired up like a winch for example, I would have that done at a shop, I am just wanting to do some minor things. Changed the bulbs in the dash today to LED ^^ though I only found out after I started that the clock bulb is different :mad: so 3 nice bright blue LED dials and then one dim green one at the end! Oh well it will still look better than it was!

I am doing auto engineering at uni starting sept if I pass me A - levels :) four exams left!
Click to expand...

Good luck in those exams. It's great being a student - I bet you'll really enjoy it.
The way I think of it, a 'relay' is just a fancy name for an electric switch. The tiny current on thin wires just operates the switch, and the larger current for things like headlights, winch motor etc. goes through the big fat wires. Otherwise, that thing on the steering column with all the switches on it would need to be about three times the size to accommodate all the wiring. Having said that, you probably won't need one for an interior light.
 
Brown said:
Good luck in those exams. It's great being a student - I bet you'll really enjoy it.
The way I think of it, a 'relay' is just a fancy name for an electric switch. The tiny current on thin wires just operates the switch, and the larger current for things like headlights, winch motor etc. goes through the big fat wires. Otherwise, that thing on the steering column with all the switches on it would need to be about three times the size to accommodate all the wiring. Having said that, you probably won't need one for an interior light.
Click to expand...

It's sh*t being one now :D hopefully I will indeed enjoy it once I get to learn about something I am actually interested in :rolleyes:. No landy with me though for the first year atleast :| Guess we are only actually at uni for 8 months or so a year :D
 
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