Wiring Accessories - Wire too stiff; any recommendations?

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

Hi,

I am currently wiring a couple accessories (LED lights) to the Jeep. I am using standard 18, 16 and 14 AWG primary stranded copper wire, depending on the application.

How, the wire I purchased came in 50' spools, off of Amazon. The 16 and 14 is very stiff and hard to bend, especially when you have 6 or 8 combined.

I know a lot of folks here wire stuff on their Jeeps and run wired all over the place. Is there a specific wire type I should buy that is better suited and easier to bend / flex? I mean I know there must be something better out there - wires on my cell phone or laptop chargers are way more flexible.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2015 6:53 pm

Are you sure they sent the right wire to you?
Never seen any in those that were too stiff ???????????
Why do you need 6 or 8 combined if just doing a couple of lights?

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

Running 4 lights: LED bar, rear lights (2 light one circuit), side lights (2 lights one circuit), and then I have 2 switches I need to get too and from, as well as two additional 12V outlets inside the Jeep. So I have a decent amount of wires that goes from the engine bay into the passenger cabin.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Generally, automotive wire is stranded wire, not solid core. This let's it flex much better. Solid core is a pain to bend in general but once bent it tends to retain it's shape.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:59 pm

6-8 wires seem like more than you need
Automotive wire unless you are using very big is easy to bend etc, can loop it around anything

Arkie · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:32 am

There is also stranded wire used in commercial building applications. It's pulled into conduit and much more flexible than the "romex" single strand we're accustomed to in our homes. Still far stiffer (fewer strands)than automotive wiring. I'd bet that's what the OP got on line. Far cheaper than fine strand automotive also.

Bob

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ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 14, 2015 11:15 am

http://www.wirebarn.com/

I got a few spools from there in 16/14ga and it has always been flexible, even running 6 wires together at a time.

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

Arkie wrote:

There is also stranded wire used in commercial building applications. It's pulled into conduit and much more flexible than the "romex" single strand we're accustomed to in our homes. Still far stiffer (fewer strands)than automotive wiring. I'd bet that's what the OP got on line. Far cheaper than fine strand automotive also.

Bob

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Well... I guess life is constant learning. Arkie is spot on. While I originally bought non-romex wire, it was really stiff. Now I bought some automotive wiring online, and is is sooooo flexible! To your points, it has more and finer strands... makes all the difference in the world.

Again, newbie mistake. But good learning experience.

Thank you all for your input! It helped a lot to know what to look for.

racer1 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:40 pm

On auto's and trailers I only use tin plated copper wire Ancor or from Waytek wire don't have to worry about corrosion. Dave

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:40 pm

What is being installed that you need 6 runs for???

If your running that many runs, your alternator and mainly battery lifespan will quickly be shortened.

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

Its several wires that act as trigger wires coming from switches to control the lights, triggering relays. So these are not high load wires, however, they are still "runs" and add to the overall number of wires I must run.

Wires with actual loads are just for the CB Radio, the LED light bar, the LED fogs and LED backup lights.

That said, everything runs through a dedicated fuse/relay box. The box itself than connects to the battery via 6 GA wire through a main fuse. From an application and overall load perspective I don't see that it would shorten the lifespan of either the battery or the alternator. Even with everything "on", incl. A/C and radio my alternator easily maintains a properly output to keep the battery charged.

Wiring Accessories - Wire too stiff; any recommendations?

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