Running Power wire under the chassis

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 21:26

Friends,

Is it good or bad to run the 4 GA Power wire from battery to boot (dist. block) thru under the chassis.

My Car is a safari, so good ground clearance and I will use a good tube/heatshrink sleeve.

Is it has any advantage or is it acceptable to run 150 amp current under the chassis?

karankapoor · 26th April 2009, 21:40

under the chassis means outside the car if yes,then no its not recommended.
why you want run the wire from outside.

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 21:48

Yes, its outside the chassis.

The advantages of running the cables outside of the car, the chance of fire will be reduced. And there will be no sound and video interference.

But I am asking you for the drawbacks.

The wire is not normal PVC and it has Nylon and Fibreglass coating. So it will not be scratched easily. Again we are going to run the wire inside a PVC Tube. There is no possibility of the wire to touch the road as there is a Sub frame in Safari under this wire.

I am worrying about heat. Will there any heat under the chassis? Will the wire affected in rainy season?

karankapoor · 26th April 2009, 22:09

as i said before, running the wire inside the cabin is recommended that's the safest way to do and every one follows this you can use a spring pipe over the wire to be sure that it well protected.

and for running it from the outside never heard/seen anyone doing it this way. i think rain/heat/dust can cause some problem to the wire over the period, not sure though others can confirm.

vinaydas · 26th April 2009, 22:15

always possibilities of Rats chewing through.Try running them through side door panels etc

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 22:24

But is it safe if I omit the rat chewing drawback. Because I am not going to run PVC wires, its some fibreglass wire, I cant even cut the wire with ordinary knife. its actually made by glass and very strong than PVC.

but i am worrying about heat. Will there any heat under the chassis?

Is it true that I have advantages like less fire and less sound interfere?

live2drive · 26th April 2009, 22:40

One drawback can be if at all the power wire gets heated due to the current flowing,
won't water (during rains or in case car goes over water) cause the wire insulation to burn or something? I may be wrong though.

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 22:46

So I hope its not a common practice. Thanks friends, I dropped my stupid idea and I will try to install under the carpet as usual. Any more suggestions welcome.

snaronikar · 26th April 2009, 22:48

I'am unable to understand, why do you want to do the unusual way? It is only because of fire hazard or...

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 22:57

No, Actually I dont have any space in left & right side foot panels(under the carpet) for this 4GA wire. Its all filled up by RCA, VGA, USB cables.

Is there any alternative like roof?

karankapoor · 26th April 2009, 22:57

don't lay it under the carpet, run it through the side panel as shown in the pic.

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 23:01

Exactly. This place is already almost full(?). Any alternative?

karankapoor · 26th April 2009, 23:06

hmmm, how many cables are you running through the side panels that it is almost full.
try and transfer some cables from left to right to accommodate the power cable.

ibm_jennifer · 26th April 2009, 23:19

More than 10 cables. Anyway I will tag them all and try insert this power cable. Thanks friends for your suggestions.

low_bass_makker · 26th April 2009, 23:44

I have seen one install on the net which was using the power cable from outside the chassis. But he cover the power cable with iron cover so that any mishap cannot occur.

But I would suggest to run it from inside the car cabin. As a lots of effort will go if you go from outside. Route the power from one side and rca and speaker from another.

26th April 2009, 21:26	#1
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	Running Power wire under the chassis Friends, Is it good or bad to run the 4 GA Power wire from battery to boot (dist. block) thru under the chassis. My Car is a safari, so good ground clearance and I will use a good tube/heatshrink sleeve. Is it has any advantage or is it acceptable to run 150 amp current under the chassis?
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 21:40	#2
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,675 Thanked: 6 Times	under the chassis means outside the car if yes,then no its not recommended. why you want run the wire from outside.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 21:48	#3
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	Yes, its outside the chassis. The advantages of running the cables outside of the car, the chance of fire will be reduced. And there will be no sound and video interference. But I am asking you for the drawbacks. The wire is not normal PVC and it has Nylon and Fibreglass coating. So it will not be scratched easily. Again we are going to run the wire inside a PVC Tube. There is no possibility of the wire to touch the road as there is a Sub frame in Safari under this wire. I am worrying about heat. Will there any heat under the chassis? Will the wire affected in rainy season?
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:09	#4
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,675 Thanked: 6 Times	as i said before, running the wire inside the cabin is recommended that's the safest way to do and every one follows this you can use a spring pipe over the wire to be sure that it well protected. and for running it from the outside never heard/seen anyone doing it this way. i think rain/heat/dust can cause some problem to the wire over the period, not sure though others can confirm.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:15	#5
vinaydas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times	always possibilities of Rats chewing through.Try running them through side door panels etc
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:24	#6
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	But is it safe if I omit the rat chewing drawback. Because I am not going to run PVC wires, its some fibreglass wire, I cant even cut the wire with ordinary knife. its actually made by glass and very strong than PVC. but i am worrying about heat. Will there any heat under the chassis? Is it true that I have advantages like less fire and less sound interfere?
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:40	#7
live2drive BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 525 Thanked: 27 Times View My Garage	One drawback can be if at all the power wire gets heated due to the current flowing, won't water (during rains or in case car goes over water) cause the wire insulation to burn or something? I may be wrong though.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:46	#8
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	So I hope its not a common practice. Thanks friends, I dropped my stupid idea and I will try to install under the carpet as usual. Any more suggestions welcome.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:48	#9
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	I'am unable to understand, why do you want to do the unusual way? It is only because of fire hazard or...
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 22:57	#10
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	No, Actually I dont have any space in left & right side foot panels(under the carpet) for this 4GA wire. Its all filled up by RCA, VGA, USB cables. Is there any alternative like roof?
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 23:01	#12
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	Exactly. This place is already almost full(?). Any alternative?
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 23:06	#13
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,675 Thanked: 6 Times	hmmm, how many cables are you running through the side panels that it is almost full. try and transfer some cables from left to right to accommodate the power cable.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 23:19	#14
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	More than 10 cables. Anyway I will tag them all and try insert this power cable. Thanks friends for your suggestions.
	() Thanks

26th April 2009, 23:44	#15
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,815 Thanked: 305 Times View My Garage	I have seen one install on the net which was using the power cable from outside the chassis. But he cover the power cable with iron cover so that any mishap cannot occur. But I would suggest to run it from inside the car cabin. As a lots of effort will go if you go from outside. Route the power from one side and rca and speaker from another.
	() Thanks