Date:         Wed, 24 Aug 2016 22:34:58 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon door wiring
Comments: To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <017701d1fe5f$6fd8ea50$4f8abef0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

A couple of things come to mind about the wiring there. First is the un substantiated idea that it's the wire insulation that gets stiff and ends up not flexing uniformly and results in focused stress point which works the copper more than if the flex was over a larger area.

Yeah, it does sound iffy.

The other thing is that one could use much more flexible stranded wire to replace the stock wire there. Think about the very fine stranded and supple insulation wire used as test leads on good multimeters.

Alistair



> On Aug 24, 2016, at 4:30 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> No. Stranded copper wiring is used for this type of wiring for flexibility, but the copper becomes less ductile after repeated flexing and will break. This takes several thousand flexings though!  
> 
> Stuart
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Brent Weide
> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 3:41 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Vanagon door wiring
> 
> Folks:  Is there such a thing as a type of wiring that will not fail (will

> remain ductile) over time as the wire is repeatedly bent?  I'd like to
> replace the sections of wire in the door wiring harnesses where they route

> through the door hinge area and would like to do so with wire that'll last

> longer than the van.  (no comments about my van only lasting a few more
> days please).
> 
> Thanks,
> Brent
> 
> --
> Brent Weide
> Portland, Oregon
> www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/