Can anyone tell me what type of cable I would require to repair the wire from the FEM to the fuse box for the DIP (LOW)headlamps, it has a 40 a relay and 2 x 20a fuses one for each side.
Thanks

 

Hi Rob,

Glad you've found the problem!

I just googled "Automotive Wire Gauge Chart" and came up with these links, which vary between 18 and 16 gauge for 2-foot length at 40 amps.

Automotive Wire & Wiring Guide from TESSCO - TESSCO.com

http://tinyurl.com/mpnym7o

http://tinyurl.com/km6xtrk

Cheers,

Don

 

Hi Don, I have not confirmed wiring as yet but I am thinking everything points to a bad wire from FEM to fuse box, I hope to get onto it today or tomorrow You say the wire is rated at 40 amps, but the fuse is only 20 amps, is this a normal calculation tha the fuse if half the rating of the wire, this is for future reference.
cheers

 

I'm not an electrician but it stands to reason you would want your fuse to blow instead of the wire.

 

From the FEM to the fuse box you would need a wire capable of only 1 amp tops. That wire only has to operate the relay in the fusebox, ie energise the relay coil.

It's the wires that go from the fusebox to the lights that have to be big 'uns.

 

Rob,

Partick makes a good point. I was not looking at the schematic and was assuming the wire in question was after the 40-amp relay and that the wire should have at least an equal rating to the relay. If the wire in question only carries the control current for the relay coil, I can be of the same gauge as used for most of the control wiring in the vehicle, and it's rating will depend on its length. If you have a caliper and can measure the diameter of the conductor in the existing wire, you can calculate its gauge with information easily found through a google search.

Cheers,

Don