Best electrical education????

[irl]

So I can pretty much do everything and am all self taught through books and online resources but I have not done electrical. I am building a complete shell and have a couple other cars I can look at but really want to know how to wire a car, build a harness and understand how all the pieces work. I know there are essentially four harnesses and where they go but how does it all work and come together. Any recommendations on a good book or site that breaks it all down. Doesn't have to be a porsche book, just a great book on electrical and wiring a car.

[ganun]

Good question, Ive done partial wiring but if I had to do a complete car from scratch. I would:

1. Copy the wiring diagram, (or make your own) down to the colors used, from an old school factory diagram. Old school I mean in the old days the car was shown in top view and the routing and destination of ea wire was shown. Since the 80s as cars got more complicated the wiring has been by system. Not as useful.
2. Make a full size peg board so that the wires can be laid out as in the car and one side terminated as a harness while the other side labeled but not terminated so final length adjustment can be made.
3. Carry to the car and install the various harnesses.
3. have fun

[timmy2]

The best..

2 years of college electrical theory followed by 4 years of apprenticeship to learn how to work with the tools and receive more college trade theory and you should be good to go....

You did ask for the best...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ClickClickBoom]

Understanding electrical schematics is the baseline. Then wiring is like hydraulics, just pipe the electrons where they need to go. Wiring a complete street going car is mostly tedious labor, coupled with copious amounts of cuts, scratches and muscle cramps. Always best to buy vs reinventing the wheel. Creating a wiring harness for an application means curves, bends and routing concerns, each of these issues creates a different length wire for the bend and getting it right is an exercise in 3D modeling. Then getting wires with the right color codes so your schematic makes sense. Good luck!

[duncan1437]

i've been reading a few auto electric books for the last few months, and reviewing what to buy next.

this one gets good reviews

Automotive Wiring and Electrical Systems (Workbench Series): Tony Candela: 9781932494877: Amazon.com: Books

i'm saving up for this one

Diagnosis and Troubleshooting of Automotive Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Systems (6th Edition) (Professional Technician): James D. Halderman: 9780132551557: Amazon.com: Books

edit...i got interested in electricity a few months ago after watching this BBC documentary on the history of electricity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G73eMr-3xHw&list=PLAkziQYlDCcGpY9hiOfftm9NqsRe1LUdJ

electromagnetism is totally fascinating!

[Evans, Marv]

I'm assuming you want to make yours for the fun, learning, & experienced of it. I'm also assuming you know "timmy2" (Dennis) makes what has been described a very high quality harnesses. The only question is does he make them for your car - if that's a route you might consider. If he doesn't, he may be willing to answer some questions you might have.

[tirwin]

If you're up for it, you can take a course from MIT for free... go to iTunes U and search "electricity". You will see the course in the search results.

My college roommate was a EE and focused on power. Beyond the physics classes I had to take, I learned a lot by watching him accidentally shock the #%^* out of himself working with capacitors.

The most practical education in working with electricity is learning what NOT to do.

[redridge]

youtube.... lots of info there.

lights, switches, analog sensors and relays.... understand these concepts and thats 95% of the 911 electrical system.