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Re: wire gauge or size of wire in wiring harness
[Re: b body idiot]
#1510978
10/02/13 10:36 AM
10/02/13 10:36 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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A 14 gauge wire is (1) size larger than a 16 gauge wire. When buying spools of wire be sure & keep the same colors & that sounds elementary but when replacing wires on several circuits it's tempting to just cut lengths of wire off of the same color spool which will give you a non original color which will mess you up on down the line with future diagnosis (trust me on that one). Buy several spools of the right colors/gauges & there is a company that will sell you specific lengths of a particular color of any gauge & very likely they have wires with the tracer color along the side like some OE circuits which is very hard to come by. When I redid my 65 dart harness I set it on the floor & seperated the brass terminals from the connectors & cleaned the connectors then added 1 wire at a time so the new harness took shape on the floor next to the old one & after I added 1 wire on the new one I cut the old wire off of the old harness till it dissappeared & the new harness took shape. Take notes of what connectors go where etc. I crimp AND solder joints. NAPA has new "Packard 56" type brass terminals 725145 female and 725147 male. Use an eyeglass mini screwdriver to get the terminals out of the bulkhead/connectors without damaging the connectors. some circuits the OE gauge used is likely adequate (dash lights for instance). #1 make sure all terminals/connections are clean/tight/continuity. EDIT to answer your Q even tho OE wiring size is just barely adequate a higher amp alt will not damage anything but post what wires you are wanting to replace & we'll go from there. #1 is to keep the ammeter needle close to 12 o'clock & I do that by not using the alt to replenish a batt that is discharged & relaying electrical add ons to the alt side of the bulkhead.
Last edited by RapidRobert; 10/02/13 10:55 AM.
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