Another wiring question

[samdajellybeenie14]

I'm terrible with electrical work and I'd love to gain some knowledge so that I can start doing my own electrical work (i.e. wire lights, stereo, etc. - small things like those, not rewiring for a Singtoe-esque engine swap).

Does anyone know of a more or less master wiring thread anywhere? I remember reading a thread a while ago where a certain member (his username escapes me at the moment) was going to make a huge wiring thread with literally everything you could ever need to know about 3rd gen wiring. I really liked that idea because it would be a huge help for people like me who are scared to even take their battery terminals off for fear that I'm going to shock the hell out of myself. I know, I know - take the negative off FIRST and put it back on LAST, but I don't know WHY you do that. When doing electrical work - or indeed any work - it's always nice to have knowledge to back up why you do things instead of just knowing that you should do them. To echo "World's Wildest Police Videos'" Sheriff John Bunnell, "Knowledge is power; and power could save your life."

Yeah yeah, I know it's cheesy; but it's true.

 

[Kraze]

Are you thinking of this thread by [MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/151853-working-thread-need-member-input.html ?

I don't think he ever got around to making it, either that or he's still working on it. I made a thread that is a good reference for wiring roof rack lights (or any switched lights really) for when you get to that: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...y-head-roof-rack-lights-wiring-questions.html

 

[EatonKyleH]

Sounds like me and my lofty promises! lol

I appreciate the continued interest and am still working away on this project but it has proven to be a massive undertaking. It will begin to appear here someday but I can't guarantee it will be very soon as its really a "when I have time to work on it" kinda project for me.

Any particular project you are trying to figure out? I may be able to help you out a bit through PM in the meantime. Just let me know.

 

[the great him]

auto motive electrical wont shock you so much as burn you... now metal to metal contact with the wrong items that can arch, but even in you are holding a wrench and touch both battery terminals at the same time with that wrench it wont shock you.

you take off the negative cable to interrupt or break the cycle/current. if nothing is grounded nothing can happen. so removing the ground terminal removes the ground for the system and thus no current can flow to make a completed circuit.

hope that helps

i can do my own wiring, but im probably not the best to explain it to someone else.

 

[piecesparts]

DC electrical circuits are simple. Think of it as a light bulb. two wires from the bulb that are on the terminals of that bulb. Connect one of the wires to the positive side of the battery and the other to the negative side and you have light. Everything works on that simple process. Now the size of wiring depends on the amount of load that you are dealing with. That is where you need to know a larger wire will last longer than a smaller wire. Also remember the smaller the number of wire gauge the larger the wire. (Example 16 gauge= small size, 12 gauge is a larger size and works best for carrying a heavier work load. It is important to place a fuse or circuit breaker on a wire from the positive side of the battery prior to that wire going throught any sheet metal surface, just in case the wire rubs through and goes to ground. Nothing more exciting that a wire turning into a hot light bulb filament (so to speak) and smokiing up your vehicle and possiboly burning it to ground.

Factory wiring systems are built to fit a vehicle and are switched within the vehicle's normal start/run circuitry. If you do aftermarket lights or air compressors, etc... then connecting the circuit through a switch or a relay that is switched by the vehicle's circuitry is recommended.

This is the God's honest basics and from that you can decide where you want to go.

One last thing, ALWAYS make your connections a solid joint. Use a quality wire crimp or solder the wire and seal the connection with a good heat shrink material or electrical tape. It is important to your day and how it ends.