wire performance

**liquid_smoke** · 06-20-2006, 02:07 PM

just curious, i know this may be a newb question

but does cutting a wire degrade its performance, like if the power wire from my batt to the powersupply is one constant line, will it perform better than if the line was cut say twice and put back together?

thanks

**DarquePervert** · 06-20-2006, 02:09 PM

You might gain some resistance on the wire, especially if it's high-quality wire.
But I think the resistance gain would be minimal, if any at all.

**evandude** · 06-20-2006, 02:14 PM

it also depends heavily on how you put it back together. if you do a crappy job twisting the cut ends back together, then it could be a poor connection, meaning higher resistance and if current gets high enough, that spot is going to get hotter than the rest of the wire, making it a weak point.

if you do it properly, then it will be fine. Soldering is usually a good option, if you can manage it in the car, but if not, high-quality crimp connections are probably a safe bet.

**liquid_smoke** · 06-20-2006, 06:00 PM

im just twisting them together and using electrical tape (lots) to wrap it up. Each end has about an 1.5inches of wire twisted.

Just wondering cuz i just installed a switch to cut the power line going to the Opus so it'll stop draining my damn battery at night. Too lazy to do the usb mod (this should have been done in the original design).

but since i installed the switch, im getting more automatic shutdowns sent from the psu cuz it thinks my bat is droping in power (it may be, but i dont think it is).
I have the computer inside the house now (first time in 3yrs) to do some basic upkeeep and rule out anything wrong with the actual computer.

**miztahsparklez** · 06-21-2006, 07:49 PM

twisting wires is a NONO in a car envioronment, just as using those wire nuts and stuff for your home is a bad idea in a car as well. cars have vibrations. vibrations will shake your wires around like crazy giving the wires a chance to break free, a chance to have a bad connection, and might even be poor enough to short something out. Always! use automotive either crimp connectors, or use solder w/ heatshrink tubing (electrical tape can be used too) on connectons inside the car. Sure it might be saving you a few extra bucks since you dont have to buy connectors, but its just not worth the risks damaging the wire, your car, or your components.

in a home environment, where wires dont usually have a chance to move and wiggle around, wire nuts are usually fine. twisting wires is usually never a good idea unless you plan to solder them after twisting.

just eliminate any doubts about your wiring and make sure to do it properly the first time. make sure you have solid grounds, no corrosion on your connectors, etc.

**liquid_smoke** · 06-22-2006, 12:16 AM

i have no idea what wire nuts are.
I am using electrical tape, and i doubt that the wires are or would come loose at any point. There not just hanging around or anything. Have to be some pretty strong vibrations

**DarquePervert** · 06-22-2006, 12:26 AM

Solder and heatshrink is the only way to go.
The interior of your car will get hot enough to melt the adhesive of electrical tape. The vibrations can cause the tape to move along the wire and expose the bare wire.

**fonseca** · 06-22-2006, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by liquid_smoke

Have to be some pretty strong vibrations

Indeed they are. I've seen T-taps and crimps completely cut through wires due to vibration, and in a very short period of time when the wire wasn't well secured but just hanging.

Electrical tape won't last. Cloth tape is a lot better. Solder and heatshrink is best.

**Eternalodyssey** · 06-22-2006, 12:42 AM

Electrical tape seems to be a decent TEMPORARY means to an end. I would never trust electrical tape to be the final solution. Wire nuts are fine for electrical work such as installing a ceiling fan or a light fixture, but I would never put it on any heavier of a load then that. Regardless, like it has already been said, the tape adhesive may melt, exposing wires, and wire nuts can get shaken loose, I've seen it myself (Back when I was in high school and poor and my idea of my "system" was a couple 6x9s in shoe boxes in my 1982 Volkswagon Quantum) Long live the Quantum!!!

**liquid_smoke** · 06-22-2006, 03:11 PM

well im sure all those things may be true in other situations, but ive had these wires in my car for about 3years now and none of the elec tape as come off or even starting too. When i rewired everything the other week to install the switch, takeing the existing electrical tape off proved to be a bit of a task. Its not regular electrical tape, its some stretchy type ****, not sure what the name is, but it dosent stick to your fingers at all, only to itself but you have to stretch it out first. Holds very well.

But to use electrical tape or not really isnt the issue im having.
I just wanted to know if cutting a wire and putting it back together (by any means, elec-solder etc) would degrade the wires performance at all.