Disco 1 Glow plugs

Did anyone know what size the main feed wire from battery to follow plug timer is please!
300tdi 1995
Brown wire to fuse then brown and orange.

currymunster said:

Did anyone know what size the main feed wire from battery to follow plug timer is please!
300tdi 1995
Brown wire to fuse then brown and orange.

Click to expand...

If say its 7amp per plug x4 then 28 amp + redundancy so 30amp 10 gauge wire will work so not a great deal in the size of wire what is the existing glow plug fuse rating?

discool said:

If say its 7amp per plug x4 then 28 amp + redundancy so 30amp 10 gauge wire will work so not a great deal in the size of wire what is the existing glow plug fuse rating?

Click to expand...

I don't know. It's completely missing and has been since I bought it.
All the diagrams show a 60amp fusible link but no wire size. Don't know why it's missing but it's about time I really dealt with it seems winter is looming large.
I've ordered a 60amp fuse and crimp terminals
I thought the wire looked like 6mm² but I don't really know?

currymunster said:

I don't know. It's completely missing and has been since I bought it.
All the diagrams show a 60amp fusible link but no wire size. Don't know why it's missing but it's about time I really dealt with it seems winter is looming large.
I've ordered a 60amp fuse and crimp terminals
I thought the wire looked like 6mm² but I don't really know?

Click to expand...

The max load for a 6mm conductor is 47amp.
I had a look in my Haynes book and it states initially the glow plug load is 15 - 20amp, but then drops to around 10amp, anything other than 10amp could an issue with the glow plug. Diesel engines and glow plugs aren’t my field but thats whats stated in the book.

discool said:

The max load for a 6mm conductor is 47amp.
I had a look in my Haynes book and it states initially the glow plug load is 15 - 20amp, but then drops to around 10amp, anything other than 10amp could an issue with the glow plug. Diesel engines and glow plugs aren’t my field but thats whats stated in the book.

Click to expand...

Yep, I hear you, conflicting information every where.
All I do know is that land rover fitted a 60amp fusible link in this direct from battery to timer relay feed.
I've no idea what it looks like as mine is missing. It looks like someone has cut it out. Maybe after it failed due to a fault......optimism is not my thing..lol
After you stated 47amp I've checked out and you are correct. I found an 8.5mm² on fleabay rated at 63amps.
I've removed the old battery tag from mine and measured the wire. The copper stands are 4mm X 4mm but that's not 8mm² as it's round. It would be less by square mm surely. Maybe 7mm²
I don't know how to work out mm² on something round..............
All I know is I'm confused.
I just want wire that won't melt.
Pics to follow.........

The are of a circle is πr2. That is ok for one solid strand but wires are multi strand so I am not sure how that works out

π is 3.132
Your wire is 4mm so radius is 2mm. So 2x2= 4mm
4mm X 3.142 = 12.568mm2
But remember that is based on one solid wire. I am sure someone with electrical knowledge will be along to give you better advice.

Dr Strangeglove said:

The are of a circle is πr2. That is ok for one solid strand but wires are multi strand so I am not sure how that works out

π is 3.132
Your wire is 4mm so radius is 2mm. So 2x2= 4mm
4mm X 3.142 = 12.568mm2
But remember that is based on one solid wire. I am sure someone with electrical knowledge will be along to give you better advice.

Click to expand...

I'm not very mathematical I'm afraid.
I did find this formula but it's way over my coffee bean brain...lol.
It does however look like I need to count the stands and know what size they are. That's going to happen isn't it................

Here it is....doh!

I bought some Crimp battery tags for 6mm² wire because I thought that was what I needed to fit(ordered before the discussions on here...lol). They turned up yesterday and the original land rover wire fits it. I'm so confused.
6mm² isn't 60amp. (Only 47amp(thanks discool))
Yet the fuse is 60amp but the original wire fits a 6mm² crimp terminal. I hope I'm making sense.......... Anybody shed some light.......lol

May help you, it gives the amperage + plus the the wire size required. Ive never been involved with ‘glow plugs’. I know how what they are how the work…but thats it.
Information on the total load is require, to specify the size of wire + fuse, but is that based on amperage per plug initially or is it the lower working amps, so for an example around 20amp (80amp) per plug initially dropping to 10amp (40amp).
If the fuse is specified correctly and as 60amp, then the wire from battery to the relay is similar.

https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/c-48-cables/c-198-single-core-pvc-thin-wall-cable

discool said:

May help you, it gives the amperage + plus the the wire size required. Ive never been involved with ‘glow plugs’. I know how what they are how the work…but thats it.
Information on the total load is require, to specify the size of wire + fuse, but is that based on amperage per plug initially or is it the lower working amps, so for an example around 20amp (80amp) per plug initially dropping to 10amp (40amp).
If the fuse is specified correctly and as 60amp, then the wire from battery to the relay is similar.

https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/c-48-cables/c-198-single-core-pvc-thin-wall-cable

Click to expand...

Thanks, that could prove to be VERY useful.
They state that the 8.5mm² cable which is 63amp is 5.5mm across. I'm guessing that's very similar to the original. Working right now but I will measure tonight when I get home. Be interesting to know what the insulation thickness is. I did look but couldn't find it.
Thumbs up mate ...

discool said:

May help you, it gives the amperage + plus the the wire size required. Ive never been involved with ‘glow plugs’. I know how what they are how the work…but thats it.
Information on the total load is require, to specify the size of wire + fuse, but is that based on amperage per plug initially or is it the lower working amps, so for an example around 20amp (80amp) per plug initially dropping to 10amp (40amp).
If the fuse is specified correctly and as 60amp, then the wire from battery to the relay is similar.

https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/c-48-cables/c-198-single-core-pvc-thin-wall-cable

Click to expand...

Just measured mine. Difficult to know exactly but it really looks like 5.5mm so it looks great. Thank you!