Date:         Wed, 22 Oct 2003 06:53:10 -0700
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wiring for tach and later instruments, what wire to use
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

><snip>
>My questions are about the wire I should use to get the signal from coil
>to the wiring connector behind the fuse box. What gauge should I use?
>
>I read one suggestion of 14 ga. in a post but that looks larger than I

16 gauge is plenty big. 18 or 20 would be more than plenty for tach signal
or gauges.

>I intend to put a few other gauges in the van at a later time and want
>to do as much of the wiring in one pass. So I was thinking of trying to
>run 4 or 5 pieces of wire from the engine compartment to the dash in a
>bundle. I have seen some suggestions of putting the wires in a flexible
>electrical conduit and priced this out at Home Despot.

Your hardware store should have some 18/3 or 18/4 SJO cord.
It's just black electrical cord with 3 or 4 wires inside. The outer
jacket diameter is maybe 3/8 - 1/2 inch. It's cheap and available.
I pilled 2 runs of 18/4 from front to back in my Westy. I used it for gauges
and control wiring to the rear stereo amp, plus had a few spares for later.

Always run extra wires while you're at it. You'll want 'em for something
next week..

Steve
EJ22 -> '86 Westy "Escape Pod"