under-car wiring

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

Just a quick question, do you need some type of conduit when you run wire under a car, or is the jacket good enough?

- If I need conduit which is preferable?

- metal

- plastic

- garden hose???

- then if conduit is needed, how do you secure it to the cars chassis?

- zip ties???

thanks in advance...

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[zyklonb 10+ year member]

i think youanswered most of your own questions.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Plastic conduit is easiest to work with.

Secure it with pipe brackets and screws or rivets.

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

Plastic conduit is easiest to work with.
Secure it with pipe brackets and screws or rivets.

Will this withstand stones? seems like in the winter when it gets cold here, the plastic will get brittle and then all it would take is a single stone or something to crack it and finish it off.

 

[skmfkr 5,000+ posts]

wtf just run the wires under the car with zip ties just stay away from the exhaust and moving parts and maybe put wire loom on it

if you have problems report back

 

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

i ran my 1/0 power wire inside a piece of 3/4" heater hose and then used a compression type connector where it enters the truck. used a combo of zip ties (3/8" wide ones, not the home depot specials) and rubberized clamps to mount it up. works great.

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

wtf just run the wires under the car with zip ties just stay away from the exhaust and moving parts and maybe put wire loom on it
if you have problems report back

just that simple huh?

thanks to all that replied!

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

Yep, it really is easy.Just watch out for high heat areas, moving parts, etc. and you'll be ok.

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

Yep, it really is easy.Just watch out for high heat areas, moving parts, etc. and you'll be ok.

cool!!

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Well, if you're thinking cold will be an issue with conduit (it won't be with the right stuff, Toleddo doesn't get cold) stay a long way away from zip ties. Use real clamps to hold it all in place.

The problem with using spilt loom is the split. It will allow dirt and debris in with the wire, which is what you are trying to avoid by covering it in the first place. Over time the junk in there could wear through the wire jacket and now you have a problem. Not to mention it filling with water and road salt in the winter.

 

[Wonger 10+ year member]

If youre really worried about rock, ice, water, etc you could use radiator hose.

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

If youre really worried about rock, ice, water, etc you could use radiator hose.

I suppose, thats why I suggested the garden hose at the begining. If it comes down to it, I think I'm going with the plastic consuit w/ clamps.

....Unless someone wants to tell me how they got their wire in the cab of a 1992 Ford Ranger. I am only using 4ga. so it shouldn't be that hard.

 

[R/T Pimp 10+ year member]

I just used zip ties and then undercoated everything, but this is on a suv.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Didn't want to post this yet, because I'm going to make a log for my 4 runs of 1/0. However, it might be beneficial, so here you go.

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

if you're only running 4ga, i'm sure there is a place to run your wire through the cab. there is always a place to get into the cab. i have 1/0 in my GLI, no drilling required.