5ktq Headlight Wiring

[James Marriott]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ameer Antar <ameer at snet.net>
To: Jack Gagnon <bullitt at cybertours.com>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: 5ktq Headlight Wiring


> At 06:28 AM 11/6/00, you wrote:
> >I just converted my 87 5ktq to the older quad headlight set-up
in an attempt
> >to get decent lighting.
> >
> >I temporarily put in some over the shelf Sylvania cool blues
that are much
> >better than the stock aero lights, but I am going to get some
Hella H4's
> >with 50/100 bulbs.
> >
> >Does anyone know if I need to install relays and heavier wire
for this
> >combo?  I would assume so.  I think I need new plugs also
since the Audi
> >ones are pretty wimpy.
>
> I also upgraded my quad lights, but as long as the wires for
the plugs are
> short, you'll be ok. In truth current capacity doesn't only
depend on wire
> gage, length is just as important. A 20 gage wire can handle
maybe 100A if
> it's a foot long, but after 10ft, it cannot handle much more
than a few
> amps.

Sorry folks, this is just flat wrong--don't burn your car up.
_Voltage drop_ depends on length, current capacity depends on
YOUR allowable wire temperature (I^2*R losses). If you can stand
really hot wire, then higher current is OK (at work we use some
mil-spec TFE-jacketed wire that is rated at something like 120
amps in a 12-gauge section--wow! We don't use it for the high
capacity (it only carries 8 amps) but for the high temp (the
heater it powers runs at 190 dC and is infrared)). If you don't
want a fire, use big wire. If you want reasonable voltage at the
output, use big wire.

cu, James Marriott
'87 4kq (alias "late-B2 90q"), 180k
'89 200q (MC1, Procon10/no bag), 126k
Boise, ID, USA     http://www.webpak.net/~marriott/