The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I was talking to a colleague who was wondering why car wiring diagrams are always shown in a spidery format with components located in their relative positions on the car, rather than in an electronic circuit format with a positive supply rail, and a return 0V / Earth etc; with components arranged functionally between the supplies.
So I took a typical Sprint wiring diagram and put part of it as more of a circuit diagram.
It includes battery / charging / starting / ignition / fuses etc; so far.

Do you find this more useful than the Workshop manual diagram ?
This is now 3 pages of A4. Please let me know of any mods; / additions corrections etc;
Tony.

Yes, it's a good idea. Much more logical and easier to read (although I am into electronics). There is no reason at all why the physical position of the component is relevant in a wiring diagram - just complicates everything.

Some manuals for other vehicles I have had +ve at the top and chassis at the bottom as you have done but they are rare. Most are messy!

Peter

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1978 Dolomite Sprint - Inca

The old cars have not so much wiring and drawing the components by shape and their location it is understandable for the non technical as most wiring diagrams were a part of the owners manual.

All newer diagrams are as you suggested. Vw/porsche started this way of drawing around 1975 and was followed by others.

Jeroen.

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Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

Thats great work Tony, nice to see it in that format. I'd like to see the rest if you wish to do so. Thanks.

Tony

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Membership 2014047

That's so much easier to figure out! Thank you.

I'm just in the middle of disconnecting the whole loom and marking up as I go.
I have spent a lot of time in the back of the manual looking at the WD.
This is good at showing relationships between components but not so good at showing how it all operates together and is poorly marked with colour codes, well mine is.

This is great Tony, other side of the fuse please

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Trevor

75 Sprint in Magenta called GunGaDiN GGD944N
2017 Jaguar XE R-sport

There's a case for both. I've been doing some work on my wiring, mostly fixing it in place at the front. I had several connectors and leads which I'd forgotten what they were for. Using the original style diagram it was easy to work out, though I think your version is easier to understand how something actually works.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

I think in the case of the Dolomite, your new style diagram is nice and clear, but is taking 4 pages to show what is easily understood in 1.

Mind you, long use has made me so familiar with Lucas colour codes that I don't NEED a wiring diagram to work on anything with Lucas codes _ especially anything with a Triumph badge!

I had to get wiring diagrams for Vauxhall Carlton when I did the engine swap on the Carledo. These ran to 10 pages in the Haynes manual and I had to scan them to the computer and then zoom in on areas to be able to read them. And it still took me most of a day to trace a handful of wires across several pages. I've not even BOTHERED to get a Haynes for the Omega, only time will tell if that was a mistake, but I hated the modern style diagram for the Carlton so much that I couldn't face trying to translate the (probably twice as bulky) Omega diagram.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
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Updated with 3 sheets in .png format.

And saved to disc. Thanks

Cheers Tony

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Trevor

75 Sprint in Magenta called GunGaDiN GGD944N
2017 Jaguar XE R-sport

Me too, thanks Tony

Tony

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Membership 2014047

That's really good.

Reminds me of the London Underground map.

Very useful.

One slight advantage possessed by the original manual style is that they show the joining connectors. If you could manage that in the new style
and match the lucas colour coding you would have it all.

Some sort of cross reference to the joining connectors location really would be the icing on the cake. Eg a number by the connector break point

and a matching numbered location for the connector...

18 - 18 multiplug base of steering column.

Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.