Hi all and please exuse me for posting this reply twice but if you read this after you read posting 16003, you will undersatnd.
The basis for the posting is to supply some correct info. The original reply is as follows.
First off, thanks Mainey, the first sites I have been to by the Powerstream is a site I have not seen before, thanks again and you demon straight what these forums are intended for, to learn from and to help others learn and once more thanks Mainey.
NOW as to the rocket scientist Cockup, I don’t know what your back ground is nor does it matter when it comes to replying to someone else’s posting. If you think I’m wrong AND I’M NOT then reply with some manors.
I have more than 25 years of automotive electronics under my belt, but having stated repeatedly in other postings, that I still find there is lots to be learnt both in the real world and in the cyber world, so if I’m wrong and someone wants to correct me, go for it as this is the best way for every body to learn.
To your sarcastic and UNOBSERVANT reply. The statement about MOST vehicles having a big earth wire going from the battery’s earth terminal the the engine is only partly right and for the very opposite reason you put forward. The next time you look at a vehicles engine, ANY and EVERY ( not most as you so put it ) engine has that big earth wire connected to it and thats because the earth returning to the battery via the chassis DOES NOT WORK for large current devices. Now Cockup, next time your under the bonnet ( and I would not recommend YOU do that to often ) have a look at the engine, any engine, and you will OBSERVE this big roundy thingy attached to the engine somewhere. This big roundy thingy is called a starter motor and it uses huge amounts of current that for many decades now, the motor companies have realised needs to have a decent positive and NEGATIVE to work properly. Thats why the big wire is there D’OH. It won’t work properly if you try to bring the earth back through the chassis.
So next time you have a remark about a posting try doing it civilly even if you can’t be right and that way, even though you are wrong someone else will most likely post an equally civil reply and point out your error. NO MORE NO LESS.
No professional installer would use the chassis as an earth return for high current applications ( not unless he was a tight A”” and was trying to save a few pennies ). As to how each individual does his own thing, thats your choice and all I’m doing is giving info that you can take or leave. I don’t set out to take the Mickey out of someone because I might not agree with there comments BUT if some no-brainer wants to have a go at me, “life’s short so I’m always ready for a laugh”
There were a couple of postings about soldering wire in vehicles.
If you are going to be joining low current wires then you can get away with just soldering. If you are going to be fixing wire intended to carry high currents then you should crimp terminal or screw terminal the connections where ever possible because high current joints have a resistance and this resistance can very very easily cause the wire joint or connection to heat up. The heat does not have to be that high for the solder only joint to let go. Note the heat does not have to get any where near the melting point of solder, solder’s strength reduces rapidly as the wires heat increases.
If you want to solder, use non sheathed crimp terminals and after crimping them to the wire then solder the crimp joint.
Regards all, you to Cockup