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[GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132321] Mon, 27 June 2011 18:18 Go to next message
Glen And Rose is currently offline  Glen And Rose   United States
Messages: 36
Registered: June 2011
Karma: 0
Member
I've been reading the issues of where do the wires go with interest. Although the PO for my coach did a great job of updating and maintaining there are still things to do before hitting the road this fall. Those of us that have built airplanes or large sailboats have come up with a system to identify wires. In most airplanes every wire, is white. so it's difficult to tell someone that it is the white wire. Here is how I solved that problem. I divided my systems, lighting...engine instruments...navigation...communications...etc.. I used sticky number wraps to mark my wires. Everything that dealt with lighting would have a first number of 1...if it were landing lights it might be 11...the left landing light would be 1110 and the right landing light 1120. Panel lighting could be 1 for lighting and 12 for the instrument lights...1210 might be the airspeed indicator. And...it could be that 1221 is panel lighting for the for the lighting of the airspeed indicator in the re
ar cockpit.

As I look at my coach, many of the wires are still original. As I see it that's a disaster waiting to happen...Murphy's Law. As early fall hits the high desert, I will have a good idea of where all of the original stuff goes and what's with all of the add on stuff. Then it's time to sit down with the existing wire diagrams and what I've chased down with the add on's and make a wire map of what needs to go from point "A" to Point "B". Then create wire looms between the engine compartment and cockpit and to then stack your wire into bundles that can be tired off with waxed cord and routed so that the bundles do not interfere with exhaust headers or rub against the radiator etc.. Both ends of a given wire is marked with where it goes. The engine compartment end can be numbered and have a clear shrink wrap put over it to maintain it quality. The receiving end will have to be adjusted to length remarked and shrink wrapped. Now your wire chart tells you at either end wher
e it goes or where it came from. You can even include a letter to tell you which bundle it is included in.

I know the current wires are marked with red, green blue and some have a strip etc.. For my comforts it's worth taking the time to number and bundle so that I can immediately know where to find the other end. Plus it put new insulation in the engine compartment and the bundles allow me to route...secure and where required wrap a chafe guard. Having read back through many of the maintenance issues that stranded a coach, electrical seems to rate fairly high of the list of culprits. When I'm done with my wire chart is is available to anyone who would like to think about it.


Glen
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Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132347 is a reply to message #132321] Mon, 27 June 2011 19:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Glen,

You're proposing an admirable project, but I really don't think such a
drastic one is necessary. The quality of the GMC wiring is such that
there's little deterioration of the wires except in the most hostile
environments, such as on top of the engine. The other wires are in
good shape, well color coded, and well documented on the wiring
diagrams. In view of that, I went another way to improve and document
my wiring.

It's an on-going project, even after 13 years, but my solution is the
use of Brother TZ label tape. A $30 hand-held printer thermally
transfers text to plastic tape of almost any color. It then applies a
clear overlay. Any time I identify a wire, I apply one of those
labels like a flag at each end. The TZ tapes are amazingly durable.
Testing with a heat gun shows that the text stays legible even as the
tape finally shrivels and melts -- at probably 300*F+. The adhesive
is equally impressive -- I have a "SHOP" label on a key that rides in
my pocket on a ring with several others. After two years it's still
there, looking like new. You may want to try the TZ tape for your
labels.

My original, and PO and my additional, wires are not pretty with all
those flags, but little time is needed to trace any marked wire. And
no reference diagram or chart is needed. Which is fortunate since,
despite a EE education, I'm awful about not marking diagrams.

You'll make me jealous, but I don't envy you the project!

By the way, my son, Alan, sells high quality large scale reproductions
of the various wiring diagrams -- up to 3'x10'! You can reach him at
<mgcsah@yahoo.com>.


Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com



On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 7:18 PM, Glen And Rose wrote:
> I've been reading the issues of where do the wires go with interest...
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132351 is a reply to message #132321] Mon, 27 June 2011 19:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hardie Johnson is currently offline  Hardie Johnson   United States
Messages: 483
Registered: January 2004
Location: Raleigh NC
Karma: 0
Senior Member
The confusion comes when you have AC and DC wiring. Since AC wiring is manufactured with white/black/green conductors, DC wiring add ons start with red/brown/green and go from there (boating style). The coach color striped wires works out pretty well.
"You can't number every piece of wire!"


Hardie Johnson "Crashj"
1973 26 foot Glacier, White Thing
Raleigh NC
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132366 is a reply to message #132347] Mon, 27 June 2011 20:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Ken,

I was hoping that you would "pipe up" as your Birchaven has the best marked
wiring of any GMC I have seen to date.

I disagree, the wiring in your Birchaven IS pretty!

I checked your Photosite Albums but couldn't seem to find any photos of what
/ how you've marked the wires. I did a Search for "Wiring" too but it didn't
come up. Do you have any pictures?

Glen, the large wiring diagrams are worth every penny!

Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426


-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Ken Henderson
Sent: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:39 AM
To: gmclist; Alan L. Henderson
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go?

Glen,

You're proposing an admirable project, but I really don't think such a
drastic one is necessary. The quality of the GMC wiring is such that
there's little deterioration of the wires except in the most hostile
environments, such as on top of the engine. The other wires are in
good shape, well color coded, and well documented on the wiring
diagrams. In view of that, I went another way to improve and document
my wiring.

It's an on-going project, even after 13 years, but my solution is the
use of Brother TZ label tape. A $30 hand-held printer thermally
transfers text to plastic tape of almost any color. It then applies a
clear overlay. Any time I identify a wire, I apply one of those
labels like a flag at each end. The TZ tapes are amazingly durable.
Testing with a heat gun shows that the text stays legible even as the
tape finally shrivels and melts -- at probably 300*F+. The adhesive
is equally impressive -- I have a "SHOP" label on a key that rides in
my pocket on a ring with several others. After two years it's still
there, looking like new. You may want to try the TZ tape for your
labels.

My original, and PO and my additional, wires are not pretty with all
those flags, but little time is needed to trace any marked wire. And
no reference diagram or chart is needed. Which is fortunate since,
despite a EE education, I'm awful about not marking diagrams.

You'll make me jealous, but I don't envy you the project!

By the way, my son, Alan, sells high quality large scale reproductions
of the various wiring diagrams -- up to 3'x10'! You can reach him at
<mgcsah@yahoo.com>.


Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com



On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 7:18 PM, Glen And Rose wrote:
> I've been reading the issues of where do the wires go with interest...
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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132369 is a reply to message #132366] Mon, 27 June 2011 20:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Nope, I've never posted photos of my rats' nests. Some have, but I
don't know where. Maybe I'll swallow my pride and put some up for
everyone's amusement. :-)

Ken H.


On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 9:41 PM, Rob Mueller wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I was hoping that you would "pipe up" as your Birchaven has the best marked
> wiring of any GMC I have seen to date.
>
> I disagree, the wiring in your Birchaven IS pretty!
>
> I checked your Photosite Albums but couldn't seem to find any photos of what
> / how you've marked the wires. I did a Search for "Wiring" too but it didn't
> come up. Do you have any pictures?
>
> Glen, the large wiring diagrams are worth every penny!
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132376 is a reply to message #132369] Mon, 27 June 2011 21:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Ken,

Tell you what you publish photos of the wiring under the front hoods of your
coach and I'll publish photos of Double Troubles wiring and we'll have a bet
as to which one gets voted a rats nest!

Five will get you ten I'll win!

Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426


-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Ken Henderson
Sent: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:50 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go?

Nope, I've never posted photos of my rats' nests. Some have, but I
don't know where. Maybe I'll swallow my pride and put some up for
everyone's amusement. :-)

Ken H.



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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132390 is a reply to message #132369] Mon, 27 June 2011 22:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Ken Henderson wrote on Mon, 27 June 2011 21:50

Nope, I've never posted photos of my rats' nests. Some have, but I don't know where. Maybe I'll swallow my pride and put some up for everyone's amusement. Smile

Ken H.

Ken,

I bet I can find some the ones I took, would you like me to send them to you? (I used them as an example of a good idea.)

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Where do They Go? [message #132395 is a reply to message #132390] Mon, 27 June 2011 22:27 Go to previous message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Sure, I'm not really in a photo-taking mode, with back & leg aches.

TIA,

Ken H.



On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 11:08 PM, Matt Colie wrote:
> I bet I can find some the ones I took, would you like me to send them to you?  (I used them as an example of a good idea.)
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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