
December 6, 2016

Speaker/bell wire was all I could think of too but its current handling didn't seem to be high enough. I spent ages Googling suppliers of automotive cable but couldn't find any no wonder if its not made anymore!
Are we saying speaker wire is OK for earthing or would it be better to choose an auto cable and compromise on colour?
Thanks

August 27, 2013

sunny said
hi Alan i use tined copper earth wier [ green & yelow ] from thins like a kettle chep & it has to have about the same in copper wier inside
This ^^^ isn’t a great idea. Automotive flex is normally 14 strands of 0.030” cable for an 8.75 amp load (at 12v), in a sheath designed for the environment. Domestic flex is designed to take lower current at higher voltages, has more strands of thinner copper, which is less resistant to vibration, and comes in a flex intended for an interior environment.
The reason translucent flex isn’t available any more, and it’s been near impossible to get for the forty odd years I’ve been playing with Bantams, is because the material that it’s made of isn’t durable enough.
You’re a grownup. Make your own decision whether visual accuracy, on something near impossible to see, that most people wouldn’t even notice, and those that would will understand exactly why the compromise was made, is more important than safety/reliability.
Anyone that points to a bit of wire on your bike, at some point down the line, and says “ooo, that should be translucent” is not someone you should be paying any attention to.

December 6, 2016

Like most things with this bike I want it to look as original as possible but there have to be compromises- I've made a lot already! Advice on the forum has been to run all earths back to the same point so the earth cable for the rear light will be quite visible assuming the earth point will be one of the engine mountings. Having said that I will be using an auto cable given your (and Sunnys) comments, probably a white one.
Thanks to all contributors.

January 18, 2020

The earth cable for the rear light will be no more visible than the other two wires for the rear light
It will look deliberate and "belong", mine does (to me – I'm assuming you're running all 3 tail light wires together?)
As far as I know, and can remember of my D3, the common earth point on the frame is the top toolbox mounting lug under the top frame tube, or even the rear tank bolt lug. I am going to use the former.
Note you need to remove all paint from it, where the earth tag will go, to get a good electrical connection.
Mike H --
Murphy's 4th law of motion states that any small object that is accidentally dropped will immediately hide itself under a larger object.

December 6, 2016

There will be a black cable from the switch in the headlamp bowl to the 5a filament, a cable from the battery in the toolbox to the 21a filament (another black?) and a cable from the central earth point. Obviously all the cables will be visible, I don't have a problem with this as its how the bike was originally but it would have been nice in the earth was translucent, thats all. Thanks again.

December 6, 2016

I have found this by searching for Speaker Cable. 17awg seems to be the equivalent of standard 1mm2 8.75a wiring cable. It is two strands but can be split of course. One of the cables has a red line running through the plastic, the other has 'Speaker Cable' stamped on it every 100cms, but im assuming this can be removed. This should be perfect for earthing cable.

December 6, 2016


December 6, 2016


January 18, 2020

I just found this -
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Assuming photo is accurate, it's tinned, remove from the outer sheath and bob's your aunt fanny
Also search for transparent lighting cable, seem to be a few
Mike H --
Murphy's 4th law of motion states that any small object that is accidentally dropped will immediately hide itself under a larger object.

December 6, 2016

Thanks for this. It does look like its tinned and each strand is insulated in its own right, so if the outer sheath is removed, as you say you should be left with two insulated cables of 0.75mm2. Ideally it would be 1mm2 to match the other cables I'm using but I think it will be OK.

December 6, 2016


December 6, 2016


December 6, 2016

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