Electrical Question

[Earlsfat]

Wasn't sure where to post this so....

I am planning on redoing the interior of RD this spring, to include new dash and console... from scratch, most likely out of sheetmetal not sure if using aluminum or steel.

I was looking at another site (mp3.com, I think?) where the guys are really into fabbing up their own stuff, and someone made a comment that using metal was a bad idea, something about the whole thing would be a fire hazard / electrical shock hazard, you'd have the full charge of the system running through the entire metal piece.

Is that right? If so, how did they get around that in the pre-plastic era cars / trucks? Sorta sounds like if you have that problem, you really don't know how to work with electricity (not that I'm a pro or anything).

IF it is right - what the hell do you use... fiberglass, wood? Fiberglass I wouldn't think would stand up to the vibration, and wood... wood warps, dents, cracks, splits... This guy can't be right... The plastic is just for the economics of manufacturing and weight savings right? (Not for it's insulating electrical properties?)

Can someone enlighten me?



FYI - I'm going to square off the dash and console, and take the console all the way back to the rear firewall, and go more for a 50's sort of dash, using some ribbed aluminum and black vinyl. My only problem is locating gauges, switches and vent assemblies that will look good with what I'm trying to do.

So if anyone knows of a custom switch place that does billet and polished wiper and headlight switches let me know. Also if anyone knows of a gauge manufacturer that has polished bezels on black face gauges (aside from Autometer and Steweart-Warner - not too nuts about theirs) let me know.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by Earlsfat

FYI - I'm going to square off the dash and console, and take the console all the way back to the rear firewall, and go more for a 50's sort of dash, using some ribbed aluminum and black vinyl. My only problem is locating gauges, switches and vent assemblies that will look good with what I'm trying to do.

Jim, last I checked, aluminum is not a conductor

Anyways, if this myth were true, then all cars are rolling unswitched bombs

Man, all I have done all weekend long is electrical work, household, but the concept is the same. What does your car have in common with a household circuit? Everything, and in both types, you have fuses (breakers), that should you goof up somewhere and the short the wiring the fuse does it's job and opens the curcuit when it's normal load current is surpassed. The only current you would have that would possibly be passing through the dash itself would be nuetral, hence no danger.

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Jim, last I checked, aluminum is not a conductor

Anyways, if this myth were true, then all cars are rolling unswitched bombs

Man, all I have done all weekend long is electrical work, household, but the concept is the same. What does your car have in common with a household circuit? Everything, and in both types, you have fuses (breakers), that should you goof up somewhere and the short the wiring the fuse does it's job and opens the curcuit when it's normal load current is surpassed. The only current you would have that would possibly be passing through the dash itself would be nuetral, hence no danger.

Well... certain household electrical... stuff (can't remember what, just now)... have warnings about mixing aluminum and copper wiring, I've never seen aluminum wiring, but I have ssen the warnings for whatever that's worth. BUT!..I thought the same thing. If you wire the damned thing right, you're not going to have anything energized that's not supposed to be... even if you use steel, right? I mean hell, weren't most dash boards steel until the 60's sometime?

Besides I kinda like the idea of having an available ground thorughout the entire dash and console... I can do more stuff with it.

EDIT: The ribbed aluminum will just be trim pieces. I'm probably going to use a light gauge (obviously) steel for the dash and console... I can' TIG for shit, and a TIG welder costs a fortune... well... at least it's more money than I have available. MIG welders run about $700 for the wleder, bottle and all, so I'll probably go that route.

[wrightz28]

i was trying to find a photo of my dash, I know I have one somewhere, it's metal, not just the dash plate, just aobut the whole dash itself.

Cheap fixtures use non-copper wiring.

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Cheap fixtures use non-copper wiring.

LMAO! Are you calling me... "frugal"?

Email me the pic if you have one!

[wrightz28]

You asked about the mixing of copper and aluminum wiring, so....

Ask, yee shall receive.

I"ll try again on that pic.

[stieh2000]

Um, I kinda doubt that a static charge build-up on a hypothetical metal (aluminum or otherwise) dashboard will be an issue. Just use common sense in making sure that any wires near the dash are completely insulated. Besides, how many other exposed metal parts are there in your interior that don't cause problems.

The main thing I would be worried about is not having airbags with a metal dash.

[Earlsfat]

Well... come on... They didn't have air bags in 1970. Hell they just BARELY had seat belts, lap belts only. I'm not worried about a metal dash, if I'm in a bad enough accident to hit the dash... I'm sure airbags would have been just a formality.

I don't think this guy was talking static electricity charges either... the way he was talking, it sounded like there'd 1000's of volts running through it. I'm pretty sure he was full of shit, I just have the kind of luck that, well, let's just say I needed to check just top make myself feel better.

[wrightz28]

meh, the volts is only how many teeth you'll get bit with, it's the amps that determine how hard the bite is.

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

meh, the volts is only how many teeth you'll get bit with, it's the amps that determine how hard the bite is.

Got lit up on a 220 once... got lit up on 110 a few times... NONE of them feel good. Volts / Amps ... I ain't screwing with either!

[wrightz28]

You know, I used to hate electric. As recent as 10 years ago I woudln't so much as try to replace a light switch.

Now, through the virutes of home repair and the honeydo list, first hand nature. Half the time now, I don't even shut off the service panel anymore, looking forward to that tickle.

[Earlsfat]

The sign of a real man...

Wife: "Honey shouldn't you shut off the circuit breaker"

Husband: "Hell no... when I lick my fingers and touch the screws on the side of the receptacle, the circuit will blow and I'll only have to go downstairs one time... to reset it."

[stepho]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

You know, I used to hate electric. As recent as 10 years ago I woudln't so much as try to replace a light switch.

Now, through the virutes of home repair and the honeydo list, first hand nature. Half the time now, I don't even shut off the service panel anymore, looking forward to that tickle.

I know a guy who believes having electricity run through your body every once in a while is good for you.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by Earlsfat

The sign of a real man...

Wife: "Honey shouldn't you shut off the circuit breaker"

Husband: "Hell no... when I lick my fingers and touch the screws on the side of the receptacle, the circuit will blow and I'll only have to go downstairs one time... to reset it."

bwahahaha!!!!

The best part of all that, is grounding the power wire while she's poking around in the distribution box!!!!

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

is grounding the power wire while she's poking around in the distribution box!!!!

AKA: A WUT - A Wife Upgrade Tactic.