Is anyone other than me an automotive wiring nerd?

[85_Ranger4x4]

@85_Ranger4x4 that seems like an elegant way to make that fan issue work. Is that a program you're using to generate diagrams? If it is, what is it? I've got very many hand drawn diagrams but it would be nice to have them stored electronically.

Nanocad, it is very similar to Autocad.

 

[Snoranger]

Nanocad, it is very similar to Autocad.

It sounds smaller.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It sounds smaller.

Nope, same amount of letters in each title.
Same amount of syllables too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It sounds smaller.

The price is much smaller.

 

[broncc]

I'm not sure of any program that the hobby guy can get their hands on for making cable drawings. I think the closest you can get is to use Eagle. Eagle is meant for circuit boards, but you can just make each connector a custom "component" and stop before PCB layout...

Definitely don't look up shady ways of acquiring E3, Altium 24+, or Zuken

EDIT: RapidHarness looks really promising. I might have to try this out.

 

[Curious Hound]

Ive recently been doing some work in Qelectrotech. Haven't tried modeling cables or harnesses. But I think it could do it. Very powerful features and the learning curve isn't too horrible. Works on all platforms, I believe. I've mostly been using it on a USB thumb drive because it works from the drive (in Windows, at least) and doesn't have to be installed on a computer. So I can use it for projects at work where I can't install any software. Currently have a project to completely renovate and rewire 3 whole PLC controlled machines. It's making me look like an electrical engineer.

I've been doing some me mechanical drawings in FreeCad. That's been working fairly well. I haven't explored it for electrical drawings yet.

 

[MaicoDoug]

National Instruments & Allen Bradley program by drawing, called "Graphical Programming". But that was in a prior life before I jumped back into Ford Rangers & TRS.

Where the word "JOG" means finding home. Instead of getting lost somewhere out past where the axis ends and my coffee cup is (was) parked.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I play around with Google Scetch-up. I'm by no means a CAD guy. I usually just whip something up with a ruler and colored pencils and give to my boss. He will whip out a drawing in a few minutes on Autocad.

 

[SenorNoob]

I like doing the physical part of electrical work. Stripping and crimping connecters that kinda thing. Small projects are cool. Every time I do a larger project I seem to miss something that causes problems. Example: The complete harness replacement and 12v/CDI swap on my 78 Honda XL350. I think it was 3 times while building the harness I realized I needed to run another wire half the length of the bike.

I really need to get under the hood of the Ranger. All of 4.0 swap connections were twisted together and electrical taped. I didn't even do heat shrink. Been meaning to fix that for 10 years now. It just works so isn't a priority.

 

[SenorNoob]

I've done lots of research and found at least 10 conflicting answers, so I'll ask here. What do you guys use for wiring on a winch? Mostly looking at 12k stuff since that's what I have, but am open to suggestions from anyone. I'd really like to use Anderson-style connectors and run something to the back to allow the winch to be used that way. I would probably also make/buy a set of jumper cable adapters.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have Anderson connectors at the front of my truck. I have jumpers with Anderson at both ends. I also have jumper cables with regular clamps at one end and Anderson at the other. My winch is now permanent bolted to my 18' car hauler so need both jumpers to reach. I run jumper off the battery and Anderson's to reach. Its also handy for jumping other cars with no Anderson.
I used to have my winch portable between front receiver and back receiver...

 

[SenorNoob]

What gauge wire do you have run to the back? What size Anderson connectors? 175amp seems common. Is that really enough for a 12k winch?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The cables are copper jumper cables that I've modified. Not sure gauge, but the wire, excluding insulation, is the size of my little finger. They don't get warm in use...
I'll have to research the Anderson size, but they are about half a deck of cards in size. Also of note there are several different anderson ends that won't fit into each other. Pay attention to that if buying at different times. Colors don't seem to make a difference, but I was buying cheap stuff.
And the cheap ones disintegrated after a couple years use. So now I buy the not cheap...

 

[holyford86]

I like doing the physical part of electrical work. Stripping and crimping connecters that kinda thing. Small projects are cool. Every time I do a larger project I seem to miss something that causes problems. Example: The complete harness replacement and 12v/CDI swap on my 78 Honda XL350. I think it was 3 times while building the harness I realized I needed to run another wire half the length of the bike.

I really need to get under the hood of the Ranger. All of 4.0 swap connections were twisted together and electrical taped. I didn't even do heat shrink. Been meaning to fix that for 10 years now. It just works so isn't a priority.

Larger projects are hard if you're looking at it in it's entirety, I like to break it down into circuits or systems, it feels less daunting that way.

When I did my swap, I soldered and heat shrunk all of my connections, last year I went through and replaced that with weatherproof connectors so I can remove the harness. The catalyst for that was corrosion starting in the connections.

I have Anderson connectors at the front of my truck. I have jumpers with Anderson at both ends. I also have jumper cables with regular clamps at one end and Anderson at the other. My winch is now permanent bolted to my 18' car hauler so need both jumpers to reach. I run jumper off the battery and Anderson's to reach. Its also handy for jumping other cars with no Anderson.
I used to have my winch portable between front receiver and back receiver...

I have something similar, except I just have a very short Anderson/clamp set and an Anderson/Anderson extension cable so I can run a trailer winch with them too. An added benefit is charging batteries in the bed while driving, utilizing the short jumper cable ends alone.

What gauge wire do you have run to the back? What size Anderson connectors? 175amp seems common. Is that really enough for a 12k winch?

I've used 2 gauge for the rear connector, all of my connectors are the 175 amp variety. I just consulted the datasheet and the 175A rating is a constant current rating, the connectors can handle industry currents of up to 1,600A depending on wire size. Occasionally going over 300A for short periods of time shouldn't cause any appreciable damage as long as you're not disconnecting under that load.

 

[Snoranger]

I would say the Anderson SB175 would be good for most standard winches and more then enough for jumper cables. The next step up, SB350, would be overkill. Overkill isn’t a bad idea when it comes to electrical.