Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
(OP)
Hi all -
Considering re-wiring much of my custom wiring loom on my BMW. I can't find a good resource that sells many colors of wire. McMaster Carr has like 8 or 9 colors and that's nice but I was hoping for like basic colors + stripes and such so I can pin out an 80 pin connector with more-unique coloring.
Anyone know of a kit or something that sells like maybe 25' of 12+ color wire?
Thanks,
Jon
Considering re-wiring much of my custom wiring loom on my BMW. I can't find a good resource that sells many colors of wire. McMaster Carr has like 8 or 9 colors and that's nice but I was hoping for like basic colors + stripes and such so I can pin out an 80 pin connector with more-unique coloring.
Anyone know of a kit or something that sells like maybe 25' of 12+ color wire?
Thanks,
Jon





RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Regards
Pat
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RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
I guess your really going to be shoveling something brown runny and smelly up a steep hill with a pointy stick then.
I do realise though that PE or PVC insulation is pretty durable except where it gets quite hot or exposed to UV light. It never gets UV exposure if you wrap it properly with tape.
Copper seems pretty durable also. Of course a lack of racing connectors is a real problem. I normally get over that by squeezing the connectors a bit with pliers to make a nice tight fit. I also route and support the cables well. Even racing flat bottom boats in a salt water environment and dessert type off road racing doesn't seem to require racing connectors in my experience.
14 volts or less is not exactly prone to flashing over air gaps or blowing through cracked insulation.
Older cars actually typically have thicker wire and thicker insulation.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
For cheap supplies you can try any of the race parts outlets, Pegasus, Summit, Jegs, etc. or, alternately, Harbor Freight, depending on how critical your assembly is going to be. "Parts is Parts" I suppose, but I'd be cautious about just how 'cheap' I'd be willing to go!
Rod
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
The vehicle is a 700 rwhp turbo BMW and I have one lengths to use adel wiggins tubing assemblies and milspec connectors where possible. However, I am considering re-wiring the car to clean it up and want to try and continue/maintain the quality throughout. I have Tefzel and PTFE shielded twisted pair where applicable but obviously things like intake air temp and oil temperature need not run on that. Just looking for a good source! Used wire is a good suggestion but definitely not on this particular build. Heat makes the vinyl insulation brittle and crack - not looking to induce more issues. Hoping to find a good source for new wire.
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Not to mention that nobody wants to buy the approved controlled-cycle crimp tools that are required to attain rated performance for any connector, and are especially critical for 'high tech' connector series. Appropriate or acceptable Weather-Pak tools are made in much greater volumes than are Mil approved crimpers, and carry somewhat lower price tags.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Don't worry about Pat, he's always like that. He is fast approaching 'old fart' status and us old farts must stick up for one another.
Rod
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Stay away from TFE insulated wire if at all possible.
It takes three men and a boy to get a grip on it so you can strip it.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
I really don't try to shortcut anything. Also, to strip the PTFE you just need the right stripper :)
I wish I could a retailer for the wire. I have some old (now 13 years old though) BMW engine harnesses but I just don't like how the insulation feels. I bet I can crack it with bends.
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
These guys will even sell you the cloth wrapped stuff!
http://www.britishwiring.com/
Give you a chance to recycle all those tired "Prince of darkness" jokes with a Teutonic twist!!
I just acquired a ton of mil spec wire & a Danials crimping kit from a defunct corporate flight department, culled out what I wanted for the Lotus project, and resold the rest at a profit. As noted, the benefits of an aircraft cannon type connector (except for the wank factor) are overstated.
Have you checked the Bimmer fan-boy web sites?
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Materials used in ovens are normally to heavier gauge, so it is most likely your aerospace supplier.
TFE and especially PEEK insulated wire is very expensive but it sounds like cost is not an issue but appearance and perceived quality is.
Nylon 11 or 12 coated might also be available and is very tough and a lot better than PVC but also pretty scarce.
Polyester block co-polymer coated wires have also bee made. Usually marketed under the DuPont trade name of Hytrel. It is extremely tough and reasonably flexible, but unlikely realistically available retail.
To strip slippery wire like TFE coated, just wrap it around something round a few times to get a grip.
Silicone rubber coated wire is also temperature resistant (hence its use in high tension leads) but it is soft and prone to abrasion and cuts.
TFE is also fairly soft and easily squashed out or cut.
PEEK is hard and tough.
I was sarcastic as my BS meter went through the roof on the "racing" connectors comment. Second hand wire from inside the cabin area works fine if it is rated to your needs. The unique nature of your needs was not indicated or even hinted at in the OP.
I have only ever seen the complex colour coding systems used by auto OEM in auto OEM wire. I ave not seen aerospace looms, but have seen material specs as I supplied those types of materials over the years.
You will find a few real racers (not pseudo wanna be racers) here and a few OEM engineers and a few real rocket scientists for that matter. They tend not to help if they see fashion statements or BS. Keep it pragmatic, unaffected and factual and you will be swamped with useful comment. Some of the most helpful here enjoy an occasional sarcastic swipe. Most take it as a wake up call or just messing around.
Describing quality of parts as "racing" is the hallmark of a pseudo racer or wannabe and that often gets you red flagged and deleted.
A comment like I need high temperature resistance as it is xxx from the exhaust and we get yyy exhaust temperatures or I need EMI shielding or I need resistance to water or oil or whatever would get a much more positive result.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Not everyone uses this system, but it's pretty common.
I think it's ATA spec 100.
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Rod
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
I wonder how they build Morgans these days?
Maybe I don't want to know..................
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
ht
Waytek will stripe wire if you order a spool of it, and Waytek is a decent source of GXL. GXL, if you are unfamiliar, is a decent automotive grade of wire. Sure you can spend mega $ getting more, but the GXL and TXL stuff are used in OEMs, and perfectly up to the task.
I am unimpressed with the DTM connectors, and not even sure that I would call them "racing", as Deutsch has a line of far superior Autosport connectors. The DTM have so-so current handling, and I have seen quite a few allow water to get past the seals. Plus dealing with Deutsch is generally a headache.
You can get all sorts of OEM connectors from Mouser, for probably a good bit less than what you are spending for Deutsch. The Weatherpack stuff mentioned is good, just a bit large. I prefer the GT150, GT280 series from Delphi, or the MX150 series from Molex. Definitely one of those preference things though, there are loads of different connector series out there. And I think Mouser stocks 90% of them.
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
I had a number of instrument panel mounted control head to trunk mounted GE Master II VHF/UHF commercial 2 way mobile radios, complete with their wiring harnesses.
The harnesses were a good 18 feet long and just coiled up and not cut to length at installation, due to the unique connectors on each end of the harnesses and a good source of high temperature rated insulation, stranded wiring.
The wiring harness is a good 3/4"+ diameter jacked bundle of mostly 18 gauge, a few 16 and 14 gauge wires and two external six gauge wires for power. Never counted the wires, but based on the connectors, I think there's around 48 unique wires and color combinations in the bundle, e.g. solid colors with tracer stripes to make up that many color combinations...
If you can find any similar older generation electronic systems designed with remote control heads to be located some distance away, you may luck out..
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
I usually raid junkyards myself as most junkyard cars are younger than mine these days. The wiring on my late 60s Triumphs is still hanging on in there just a few sections under the bonnet/hood renewed over the years when they got a bit crispy.
Nick
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
Have you ever plotted universal entropy vs time? There is a distinct increase corresponding to the life of Joe Lucas.
RE: Resource for colored/striped wire for automotive harness building?
http://www.riwire.com/