4 replies to this topic

[minialf]

ive decided to repair my wiring loom on my mini but im not 100% sure im doing it right. ive measured all the wires i need to replace and there are 3 main thicknesses, there is (outer diameter) 2.1mm, 3.3mm and 4mm. so i looked on a website and it is equivilent to...

14/0.30 8.75 amps = 2mm
28/0.30 17 amps = 3mm
44/0.30 25 amps = 4mm

this is standard PVC cable (not thin wall)

a few questions - the 4 mm thickness wire is coming out of the alternator so i was thinking is this thick enough or will the alternator give out more than 25 amps and it will just melt??
also the 3mm thick wire is for things like heated rear screen, wipers, lights etc so will this be thick enough?
and my mini is a 1987 so should i be using thin wall or standard??? I know thin wall can withstand alot more amperage going through the same thickness wire??

thanx alot for your help in advance.

[Ethel]

Where wire thickness is given in mm it is square millimetres as measurement of conductor area - i.e. 4mm wire has twice the area of 2mm wire but is a bit over 2mm in diameter (2mm wire is between 1.5 & 2mm diameter). We should really call it cable too - it's made up strands of wire.

There are 2 conductors from a standard Mini alternator, current outputs vary up to 70amps.


Most of the online suppliers like autosparks have useful info on cable sizing.

[minialf]

Ok so wen u say current output is uptown 70amps surely it won't be thick enough if 4mm is only 25amp?? i looked on autosparks and the is why Im asking if u could explain a bit more it would help thanx alot

[minialf]

Also i am measuring the cable with a vernier caliper on the outer diameter of the cable (not the actual wire) IS this right?

[minialf]

Also i just looked on the autosparks link and the says 6mm is alternator output but this 50amps?? there isn't any 6mm wiring on the car??