Worst wiring ever?

PostPost by: bitsobrits » Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:19 am

Okay, someone probably has seen worse, but I thought I'd start with this photo. Almost all 12 gauge, so plenty heavy, but an odd combo of solder, clamp, and crimp connections. Plenty of fuses here, with more behind the dash. I think each turn signal had their own fuse. The large cylindrical unit to the left is a siren for the alarm system, btw, and the large iron bar next to it is a "hanger" for the front of the gearbox (bought the car with engine out).
Attachments
s3-wiring.jpg and
Steve

Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow

Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
bitsobrits
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 419
Joined: 27 Apr 2011

PostPost by: holywood3645 » Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:28 am

Plenty of fused circuits, better than your car burning up due to and electrical short.
James
Last edited by holywood3645 on Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
holywood3645
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1102
Joined: 07 Oct 2003

PostPost by: john.p.clegg » Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:24 am

If only he had used lacing twine instead of cable ties it would have been a pleasure to look at...

Oh,the good old days at the Post Office Telephones...

John :wink:
User avatar
john.p.clegg
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 5744
Joined: 21 Sep 2003

PostPost by: el-saturn » Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:35 am

.................all I can say is: this chap just went ape shit! probably done by an accountant! sandy (6 fuse box for my 36 4982)
el-saturn
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1374
Joined: 27 Jun 2012

PostPost by: Rob P » Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:07 am

john.p.clegg wrote:If only he had used lacing twine instead of cable ties it would have been a pleasure to look at...
Oh,the good old days at the Post Office Telephones...
John :wink:


Fellow BT worker here too John, I remember lacing cables and the fabulous Clove Hitch knot to finish off.
Cable lacing was a work of art if done properly :-)
Simplify and add lightness

Lotus Elan S4 Coupe - Wedgewood Blue
Lotus Elise S1 - Racing Green
User avatar
Rob P
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 239
Joined: 10 Jun 2014

PostPost by: tcsoar » Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:26 am

Alas cable ties are the norm in BT exchanges now, although those ones would not pass the quality checks, all cable ties to be tensioned and cut using appropriate tool thus leaving no sharp edges for the next engineer to find!!

Chris,
User avatar
tcsoar
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 360
Joined: 01 May 2007

PostPost by: nomad » Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:01 pm

Geez, Steve, I figured you would have it running by now! :mrgreen:
That electrical work looks like the kinda work a guy that saws the wheel openings out to fit bigger tires would do! :lol:

Kurt.
nomad
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1172
Joined: 05 May 2012

PostPost by: prezoom » Thu Sep 01, 2016 2:33 pm

I still have a roll of waxed twine.

Not much worse of a job than I found on my Plus2. At least his fuses are aligned in block. My DPO just added inline fuses at the starter solenoid going every which way. I did add a 10 position fuse block to my S2 when I added the alternator. All high draw circuits are fused, including separating the low and high beams. Each circuit is fused to slightly above the circuits draw. I know I hit the mark pretty close, when an additional cigarette lighter was quickly installed on the iginition circuit to power a GPS device. When switched on, it operated the fuse and the engine died.
Rob Walker
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe

Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
prezoom
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1332
Joined: 16 Mar 2009

PostPost by: nomad » Thu Sep 01, 2016 6:22 pm

To me, having everything fused isn't as important as having the major loads on relay's. Old, hard to find, switches need help IMO.

Kurt.
nomad
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1172
Joined: 05 May 2012

PostPost by: el-saturn » Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:00 pm

.............there's loads of 2 fuse cars on the road: it must of been a question of weight: as they didnt have cfrp, titanium, k-nuts, aeroquip, lathe optimized bolts and so forth!!! ..................... copper and relays etc. is heavy! sj
el-saturn
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1374
Joined: 27 Jun 2012

PostPost by: Elseezed » Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:28 pm

Two 35amp fuses on my fuse box fed from the ignition switch on. 2wires from each fuse, I have Identified two as horn and wipers, any body know what the other two feed? Three of the wires are blue so difficult to trace.
Les.
Elseezed
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 153
Joined: 28 Mar 2015

PostPost by: gus » Thu Sep 01, 2016 9:38 pm

Pretty much 2 fuse setups are one is switched the other unswitched. Bunch of stuff not fused
gus
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 721
Joined: 05 May 2011

PostPost by: Elseezed » Thu Sep 01, 2016 9:51 pm

That's what I thought but not in my case. Checked with meter and supply only with ign on. I aim to fit 6 way fuse box. At the moment headlamps go via dip and main beam relays but no fuse.
Les.
Elseezed
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 153
Joined: 28 Mar 2015

PostPost by: Geoffers71 » Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:07 am

You think THAT was the worst wiring ever? Here's a pic of the wiring I found in my Scimitar GTE, before I restored her. Everything.....I mean everything, Servo, mc's, wiper motor, fuse boxes and the wiring......under the bonnet (hood) had been sprayed primer grey :shock:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s36 ... V31429.jpg

Took hours with cellulose thinners to get it anywhere acceptable.
1965 Elan S2 (26/4726)
2002 Elise S2 (now sold :-()
1970 Scimitar GTE
"The older I get the better I was !"
Geoffers71
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 437
Joined: 06 Feb 2014

PostPost by: elj221c » Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:48 pm

Rob P wrote:
john.p.clegg wrote:If only he had used lacing twine instead of cable ties it would have been a pleasure to look at...
Oh,the good old days at the Post Office Telephones...
John :wink:


Fellow BT worker here too John, I remember lacing cables and the fabulous Clove Hitch knot to finish off.
Cable lacing was a work of art if done properly :-)


Likewise.

The famous 'Plate Wiring' An essential part of one of the courses. (B course?)

The black waxed cotton was great for repairing my tubular bicycle tyres as well.

Oh, dear. Another hi-jacked thread.

Sorry!

:oops:
Roy
'65 S2
User avatar
elj221c
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 722
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Next

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 38 guests