I'm fitting some gauges to my car (boost, oil temp/pressure and a knocklink). The oil temp/pressure is a dual digital SPA gauge and like the knocklink needs 12v ignition feed and ground. The boost just needs an illumination feed and ground too.

Rather than running lots of seperate wires, I wanted to create a much neater and simpler wiring loom. I'll run 3 power lines up from the dash - 12v switch, 12v illumination and ground and they'll connect to a Molex plug. I'll then run 3 feed for the gauge grounds and two for the 12v supply.

The main power cables are a good bit thicker than the individual cables going to the gauges.

Is this OK? and does it make sense?

Stefan

 

Yes, and yes, and it's a good idea.:
Alcazar

 

thanks

[rant mode on]
I'm going to have to re-think the Molex connectors as prices here in the UK are a joke.

In the US, you can buy little packs with the male receptacle, female plug and all the little pin terminals for a few bucks (depending on the number of circuits you need).

Found some distributors here in the UK and although the plugs and receptacles are fairly cheap (30p or so each), the terminals are 15p each and they all want orders of 100+. So, your $1.50 connector turns out to cost £10 over here.
[/rant mode off]

sorry, just had to get that off my chest

Stefan

 

Have a look at demon Tweeks, they sell some multipole connectors that are quite cheap.
Also Maplins, RS components, and Rapid Electronics.
Alcazar

 

Yeah, RS would have been spot on, but they only sell the terminals in bags of 100 @ £16 for the male and £11 for the female ones

So, the cost of the actual receptacles and plugs was around £4 (I wanted 2-pin, 10-pin and 12-pin ones), but I had to spend another £27 just for the fecking pins - go figure

Then I though Deltron would come to my rescue as they said they would sell me as few terminals as I needed, but they need minimum orders for the receptacles/plugs of 20+ and some leads times were 8 weeks.

I tried Rapid, who were in the same situation as RS - plugs and terminals can be bought individually, but the terminals are in bags of 100

Maplins just didn't sell the terminals I was after, but I'll have a look to see if they do something similar.

Stefan

 

Try Vehicle Wiring Products, they sell products for wiring vehicles....

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk/

 

Yes, that's the one I was going to suggest next, but I couldn't find the e-mail:
Alcazar

 

If your really stuck try a RC model stockist, unfortunately the decent rated connectors are only 2-pin but their pretty cheap. The Tamiya type connector is generally available but if you want to run a higher load or just be a bit safer DEANS connectors are used by many RC racing pro's, these things can seemingly take a continious 30A load, both connectors are pretty small as well so you can tuck them up under the dash out of the way.
John