What is the wiring harness of a car? Cars are large, with an average length of about 4 meters. However, a car is composed of more than 10,000 independent parts that cannot be disassembled, and most of these parts are small.
The wiring harness in the car is responsible for many functions in the car, such as airbags, ABS brakes, signal lights, engines and many other important functions in the car. Without the wiring harness, these functions would not be possible.
Therefore, we should fully understand the role of automotive wiring harnesses. Next, we will explain the role and importance of automotive wiring harnesses.
What is an automotive wiring harness?
The automotive wiring harness is the main network of the automotive circuit. Without the wiring harness, there would be no automotive circuit. The wiring harness refers to the components that are bundled to form a circuit connection, after the contact terminal (connector) made of copper material is crimped with the wires and cables, and then the insulator is plastic-pressed or metal shell is added.
Simply put, automotive wiring harnesses assemble cables, connectors, terminals, and wires to transmit electricity in a car .
In the past, cars were purely mechanical and could run without electricity. However, it would be a miracle to drive a modern car without electricity .
Therefore, automotive wiring harnesses are a critical component of any car engine. Without them, the electricity cannot reach the different electrical components of the car.
The car's ignition systems, such as the starter, chassis, and alternator, all require electricity. Without the car's wiring harness to transmit them, they would not receive this power.
But for a car, it is not enough to just have a car wiring harness. The wires and terminals must also be properly connected to the electrical components.
Understanding this connection is all about understanding the different wiring harness circuits.
Automobile wiring harness circuit
Since automotive wiring harnesses are connected to different electrical components, they have different connection circuits.
These circuits have different uses. A standard car circuit has 12 of them.
The circuit includes:
Dashboard lighting
meter
Traffic lights
Heating and Air Conditioning
trumpet
Parking lights
Radio broadcast
brake light
taillight
Turn signal lights
Wiper
(Automotive wiring harness cables and circuits)
From their names, you can easily understand the function of each circuit.
However, many high-end vehicles have wiring harnesses with more than 12 circuits. Some have 18, and some have 24. These extra circuits are important because vehicles are equipped with more electrical components.
If a car has 18 circuits, you will find the following as extra circuits:
Electric fuel pump
Electric fan
High mounted parking lights
Two power locks
Radio B+Memory
But if the car has 24 circuits, in addition to the 18, these are the extra circuits:
dome light
Luggage compartment light
Glove box light
clock
Under hood lights
(Under hood lights)
Components of automotive wiring harness
In addition to the circuit, the automotive wiring harness has various components, including:
Connector
The connector assembly is just what the name implies: it connects the wires in the wiring harness to different circuits and power sources. A typical connector has a male end and a female end. The two ends connect together to transfer electrical current.
However, there are different types of connectors, depending on the wiring harness. They also have terminals made of different materials, with the best being brass and copper.
(Automotive cables and wires)
fuse
Generally speaking, the purpose of a fuse is to protect electrical components when something goes wrong, for example, when the current is too high.
The characteristic of a wiring harness fuse is that the wire will easily melt under a certain current level. When it melts, it will break the circuit.
Thus, it blocks stray electrical current from reaching the electrical components of your car, thus protecting them.
(Protect electrical components)
Fuse box
Each circuit in the wiring harness has a separate fuse. This means that if one fuse goes bad, it won't affect all the components. The fuse box is like a house where you can assemble different fuses . It is similar to a distribution panel.
(Wiring harness behind instrument panel)
Relay
The relay component of the automotive wiring harness is used for high current circulation. It is one of the most important components and gets its power directly from the battery. In contrast, some components get their power from other automotive system components. Therefore, the relay component can deliver a strong current from a low current.
electric wire
A wiring harness is an assembly made up of cables or wires. The cables or wires are the components in view here. These are usually copper wires and come in different circuit measurement variations.
For example, the horn and headlight circuits use 1.5 gauge wire. But the circuits for the dome and door lights use 0.5 gauge wire. When buying wire for a circuit, it is important to confirm the current value of the circuit.
(Electrician checking car wiring)
What are the advantages of automotive wiring harnesses?
Having an automotive wiring harness in your car is always better than not having one at all. Here are some of the benefits they bring:
Short circuits occur less frequently: With automotive wiring harnesses, there is less chance of short circuits in the circuit. Why? Because the wiring harness assembles multiple wires into well-arranged bundles. These bundles are not flexible but not loose.
Fast Setup: Installing a wiring harness can take a long time with many wires and circuits to connect. However, with a car harness, there is only one unit to connect and all the wires will work. In addition to simplifying setup, you can also avoid making incorrect connections.
Better Fuel Usage: Installing a car wiring harness will ensure that the car optimizes fuel usage. In the long run, you can save money on gas.
More durable: Cars often need to endure harsh environments. There are only rare examples such as cold winter weather, downpours, and heat waves. In such conditions, car wiring harnesses can still function. These harnesses are made of strong materials that are not easy to break.
(Close-up of the car's electrical system)
How to choose the right wiring harness for your car
The following tips will help you:
Check the circuit connector: This is the first and most important step. As mentioned before, the standard wiring harness has 12 circuits, but others have 18 or 24. The circuit connector must be checked to confirm that it matches your model.
Also, check the connection mode. Does it need to be crimped or soldered, or both? A combination of both is best for performance.
Check if the wiring harness is expandable: A car may only need a wiring harness for 12 circuits. What happens if you have a car that needs 18 circuits? You can buy a new wiring harness. Or, you can get an expandable harness that can accommodate more circuits from an assembly. Expandable harnesses are also a plus because they have less voltage loss.
Check the harness material: You want nothing but a durable harness. To ensure this, check the harness material, especially the conductor and connector material. For wires, copper is the best choice. You can choose copper or brass for connector terminals, and use aluminum terminals with caution.
(Auto mechanic checking wiring harness)
in conclusion
In general, the wiring harness in a car is an important bridge between the vehicle's electrical system and its multiple electronic components.
It provides power and communication during operation from one component to another.
Without the correct wiring harness, your vehicle’s electrical system will face a host of issues including loss of power, reduced efficiency, and possibly even fire if not properly monitored.
It’s important to inspect your car’s wiring harness regularly so you can spot any signs of damage before more serious problems develop.
This way, your harness will last longer and you’ll prevent any unexpected maintenance costs.
