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MG MGA - 'Wiring the 1500' - I need some clarification

The article was a huge help until I got to the headlamps. The article described in section A nine wires all with bullet ends. The wiring harness I have only had six wires -- instead of 2 blue/white, 2 blue/red, and 2 red, I have 1 of each. In addition the article describes 3 sections, while my harness came in 5 sections. I need a little help...

P.S. How do you connect the battery to the electrical system of the MGA '58?
gerard hutchinson

headlights- you should have a small harness (double connectors) that travels along the bonnet brace
Battery(s)- you will run a new battery cable along the right side where the fuel & brake lines are, I used a red cable, connected to the starter pull. I am looking for photos if I find I will e-mail

Cliff(SC)
Jones

For your battery, I used welding cable. The finer strands inside the cable allow less resistance and therefore greater...flow... of electricity to the starter. I also found that it was less expensive and the store where I bought it did a great job of attaching the cable ends. Gordon
Gordon Harrison

did you get your welding cable from a specialty supplier or a regular hardware store?
gerard hutchinson

Hi Folks. Regarding battery cable. The stranded welding wire is excellent, but I couldnt find a proper sized proper end that connects to the starter pull, so I made one. Take a short piece of copper pipe with an inside diameter sust large enough to fit over the wire inside the welding cable. Then, pound one end of the copper tube flat with a hammer. Round the corners of the end you just flattened with a grinder. Drill a hole in the flattened end of the pipe that is large enough to fit the threaded stud on the starter pull. Now Solder the open end of the pipe nto the cable. Be sure that the inside of the pipe is clean, and use rosin core electrical solder ONLY. You are ready to install the cable. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

Any welding supply store will be able to set you up with exactly what you need. Don't make a big deal out of it. Just take a piece of battery cable and ask them for an equivalent size and the proper lenght. Ask them to put a starter connector on one end. that all there is to it. Gordon
Gordon Harrison

Some Tractor stores ie Farm&Fleet,TSC,etc have welding cable, which might be cheaper than a welding supply store
gary starr

So... I still have a coupe questions (1) I am installing an altenator instead of the generator. Will I make a connection between the altenator and battery? Does the connection to the starter also charge the battery? (2) Is anyone familiar with the '1500' wiring harness as it relates to the headlamp connections?
gerard hutchinson

Marine Supply outlets like West Marine" stock battery cable and solder on terminals in various sizes.
D Sjostrom

Gerard, - Headlight connections here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/circ_d.htm
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2007 and 30/01/2007

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