What Gauge Wiring?

[kool-aide]

Ok, before I go tearing into my radio hack parts to build a custom wire harness. I thought I would ask what gauge wire is used for the stereo stuff? I need to run new wire from the harness at the rear of the radio to the harness at the end of the steering wheel radio controls. I bought solid wire 20 gauge, cuz I thought 18 was too thick. Well did I guess right?

thanks

kool-aide

[bigrondownhiller]

You should use stranded wire. I think the factory is 18 gauge, possibly 16.

[kool-aide]

why stranded? I'm pretty sure factory will be solid wire, besides stranded is a pain for soldering.

[bigrondownhiller]

I don't think there is any solid wire used in a car, except maybe a fusible link.

[kool-aide]

hmm now that i think about it, I think ur right. solid wire is stiff and I don't recall any wire in the car being stiff.

[kool-aide]

i wonder if it is 18 ga stranded... Of course that would mean yet another trip back to radio shack for another exchange.

[bigrondownhiller]

that is probably it.

[kool-aide]

hmm, well i'm sure radio shack won't mind one more return exchange. I'll go with 18 ga stranded then. of course i won't be doing anything until i can figure out where all of the wires go.

[bigrondownhiller]

Do you have a test light? You could test the pinouts on the radio to see what each one does.

[kool-aide]

i think i do. I have soemthing that came with my hitch wiring harness. I have something in my car tool bax that looks like a test light. I have a multi meter if that is better. Although I'm not real sure I am following you though. I could possibly see a multi meter being helpful, but not a light bulb.

[bigrondownhiller]

You are just using it to see if the pinouts on the radio are putting out voltage and when. You could also splice the three wires from the column into the radio harness wires. Black to black, yellow to yellow, and gray to gray. I am not sure if those extra pinouts in the radio would match those wires or not.

[kool-aide]

hmm. I think mo matter what I do it will be a cross your fingers experiment. I have been avoiding it for the last few days. I even opted to pressure wash my driveway, that's how bad I am avoiding it. I just know I'm going to blow a fuse.

I'm just going to collect all my data, stare at the wiring diagram, and punt, lol....

I'll be sure to post the mayhem.

[kool-aide]

well i am done

i added to this thread on how i made out on adding steering wheel radio controls and a new fuse box circuit thingy

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70006

it was a ton of fun, even in the freeze FL winter weather.

oh, and thanks to all and all that helped, it was smooth sailing once i got the parts