Date:         Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:27:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wire gauge: smaller to larger ok?
Comments: To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <c4e7c5f90804111016r61498fcepc6c98ecc05d111f7@mail.gmail.co m>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 01:16 PM 4/11/2008, neil N wrote...
>Hi all.
>
>Vanagon Bentley (1981) shows a #16 wire from "15" on ignition switch
>to the coil.
>
>Jetta Bentley shows a #12 wire going to coil.
>
>Is it a bad idea (potentially too much load for gauge) to connect
>existing #16 wire in engine bay, to the "Jetta" #12 wire to Jetta
>coil?

Maybe, who knows the specs for a Jetta coil? #16 wire is rated for 3.7
Amps, #12 wire for 9.3 A.

What I would do is get a standard Bosch type relay and use the #16 wire
to control the relay, you can then use a #12 wire from the battery
connection on the starter to the relay to the Jetta coil. That will
also take a lot of load off of your ignition switch.

Relay terminal
86 to ground
85 to #16 wire
87 to battery connection on starter via #12 wire (best with an inline
8A fuse near the starter)
30 to Jetta coil via #12 wire

Here's info on Bosch relays (about the middle of the page)
http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm