Custom building small wiring harness

**sebberry** · 12-21-2005, 09:37 PM

Hi guys,

So - I want to build a single wiring harness that includes VGA, USB and power for my screen. Ultimately, I would like to cut the VGA and USB connectors off of the xenarc screen and mount the wires to a board and use a 24 pin connector, such as an ATX PSU connector to run all the wires through. I think that this would be easier than having 3 different wires running through the dash and would make for a cleaner, more OEM like install.

So my question: Has anyone done this and if so what connectors do you recommend using? I have searched online but haven't found much of specific interest, so it looks like I will have to build this from the ground up.

Oh, and does anyone know of some decent but simple enough software for designing wiring harnesses?

Thanks!

**sebberry** · 07-02-2006, 03:29 PM

Bump!

**binary.h4x** · 07-02-2006, 03:51 PM

what about a parallel port connector(DB25)? Cheap and widely available.

**sebberry** · 07-02-2006, 04:35 PM

I was thinking about that... would that handle the USB power ok too?

**TheLandYacht** · 07-02-2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by sebberry

I was thinking about that... would that handle the USB power ok too?

For the small voltages & power requirements you're talkin bout, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't

Parallel is the way to go.

**sebberry** · 07-03-2006, 04:11 AM

I was hoping to get something more automotive grade, you know.. the ones they use on the back of the head units? My car has some really nice ones that use a flat blade like connector that slides in and out very nicely with good housings (that aren't too tight like some of the molex round pin connectors that I have tried) and have good positive locks on them that hold them together nicely.

Unfortunately I have no idea where to get such connectors, let alone enough of a variety of color coded wiring to go with it.

Parallel just seems like a cheap way out.

**2k1Toaster** · 07-03-2006, 04:32 AM

Why not just do a really good sheathing job on the 3 cables? Get that stranded nylon stuff and wrap it up. Similar as to what is actually found on the ATX line of a higher end PSU. That way if you need to extend/replace/remove a cable, you can do so a bit easier. Wire in a tight sheat I beleive would be simple and very very nice looking running through a car.

Similar to the picture below. It has 4 wires of a lower guage (bigger) wrapped together and looks awesome. Just get some of that stuff, and a little patience. Now that I think about it, I might just do it this my myself!

**Wiredwrx** · 07-03-2006, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by sebberry

Hi guys,

So - I want to build a single wiring harness that includes VGA, USB and power for my screen. Ultimately, I would like to cut the VGA and USB connectors off of the xenarc screen and mount the wires to a board and use a 24 pin connector, such as an ATX PSU connector to run all the wires through. I think that this would be easier than having 3 different wires running through the dash and would make for a cleaner, more OEM like install.

So my question: Has anyone done this and if so what connectors do you recommend using? I have searched online but haven't found much of specific interest, so it looks like I will have to build this from the ground up.

Oh, and does anyone know of some decent but simple enough software for designing wiring harnesses?

Thanks!

I think the biggest problem you will run into is interference/cross talk. VGA and AUDIO and Power don't like being next to each other for extended runs. If you look at any audio installation wesbite with how to's, you will notice that they suggest that all crossing of power and audio be at 90 degree angles (how that is possible, I am not 100 percent sure, but that is what they suggest)

It is bestto keep power wires on one side of the car, and "signal" on the others side of the car.

While you might be able to overcome this problem with properlyshielded cables and wires, the chance of you finding the proper amount of conductors, with the proper amount of shielding (say, 2 wires with shielding, then 4 wires with shielding) together in a single cable is almost nil.

Realize, that if you are willing to run multiple cables, and just have a single multi conductor connector at the comnputer and at the other end, that is possible, but will be difficult to run through the car.

I would go with a single, multi conductor connector at the computer, with the various cables installed into the connector, and then run the seperate cables appropriately.

Michael

**IntellaWorks** · 07-03-2006, 01:16 PM

I agree with WiredWRX. Yes it will look great but I don't beleive you will get the functionality you wish for.

**Rundell** · 07-03-2006, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

I would go with a single, multi conductor connector at the computer, with the various cables installed into the connector, and then run the seperate cables appropriately.

Yes I believe as well that this is the best solution. I have done this already and I am currently improving on it now.