Ever run power wire UNDERNEATH a vehicle?

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

looking for a way to run some 1/0 to my amp rack in the back of my zr2 blazer. just a thought to run it underneath in double layers of expandable sleeving with compression grommets leading inside at the amps. i'd obviously use rubber clamps and heat shielding (still have some from my days as a tank mechanic in the army //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif )in the appropriate places. Is this common practice or a pipe dream? lemme know what you guys think.

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[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

Its not to hard....It seems as if you have the "know how" to be able 2 do it

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

use conduit

 

[customtronic 10+ year member]

I've done it before. I use stainless steel braiding and conduit clamps. It works fine.

 

[Spac3d 10+ year member]

Yep I did it when I had many runs of 0ga. Much easier than running inside the cabin. It took a huge hole to fit the 0ga //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

 

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

I've been an electrician for 9 years now so I know I could pull it off, But i don't want to bend up some PVC conduit to do it either. I like the idea of stainless braiding customtronic, but where would i get it? Ah...from summit racing or jegs in one of those radiator hose dressing kits that makes your factory hoses look braided? I'd have to buy more than one kit though as one wouldn't be long enough... That's why I figured on 2 layers of expandable sleeving, which I can get locally for a song.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

The winters in NY have to be hell on the underbody...you want something that's going to withstand abuse from salt and road grime.

 

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

I know, that's what I've been thinking about too. The salt on the roads is horrendous on vehicles here. I'm not too worried about the salt eating at the insulation of the wire per say, I'm more concerned about rocks and debris that get kicked up and hit it.

 

[btnhfan 5,000+ posts]

I did that before, and a hole got burnt in my ground cable due to the engine.

I wont do it again unless its completely isolated from the engine components.

 

[krouchchocolate 10+ year member]

i've done it before. I used wire loom to protect the wire. Not sure if it did any protection. When i took off the wire from underneath the car, the wire looked like it was still new. Just kinda dirty.

 

[KyleHarty 10+ year member]

I did this a while back using some hard plastic conduit from Home Depot, I believe it was 3/4" internal for 1/0 gauge. It stood up to the MN weather without any problems.

 

[22mountaineer 10+ year member]

I've been an electrician for 9 years now so I know I could pull it off, But i don't want to bend up some PVC conduit to do it either. I like the idea of stainless braiding customtronic, but where would i get it? Ah...from summit racing or jegs in one of those radiator hose dressing kits that makes your factory hoses look braided? I'd have to buy more than one kit though as one wouldn't be long enough... That's why I figured on 2 layers of expandable sleeving, which I can get locally for a song.

Then why not EMT?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I got some heater hose (or something) from Autozone and ran the power wire under by buddies truck through that hose. Worked great. The hose was flexible, it was designed to go in the engine compartment so it's relatively enviornment resistent, and thick enough to provide ample protection to the wire. Plus it was relatively cheap.

 

[dyabolical 10+ year member]

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=1941928&PMT4NO=0

This is what i am using. I have worked a couple years as an electrician also...

 

[AudioAnonymous 10+ year member]

I got a couple runs underneath mine. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif