Section 173.4. Wiring

Wiring shall be installed using the industry’s best practices.

(1) Wiring must be primary SAE rated and be of proper gauge to handle applied load. Ground wiring must be of equal gauge.

(2) Wiring may not be loaded to more than 80% of its rated capacity.

(3) The wiring must be permanently installed and routed through the vehicle in a manner to avoid short circuits or interfering with the operation of the vehicle.

(4) Grommets shall be used when wires pass through bulkheads and other sharp metal surfaces.

(5) Each accessory will be protected with the proper circuit protection as recommended by the manufacturer (that is, fuses or circuit breakers). The main circuit protection will be as close to the power source as possible.

(6) Additional wiring installed for emergency equipment may not impede or compromise the original equipment manufacturer circuits or original equipment manufacturer equipment functions as intended by the vehicle manufacturer.

(7) Tapping power off of original equipment manufacture circuits, such as in fuse blocks, must be only as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Tapping power off air bag or ABS brake and brake light circuits is prohibited.

(8) These requirements do not apply to flashing or revolving lights that are attached to a vehicle with a magnetic base.

The provisions of this § 173.4 adopted October 21, 1977, effective October 22, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 3131; amended May 12, 1978, effective May 13, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1329; amended March 27, 1981, effective March 28, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 1101; amended November 5, 1993, effective November 6, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 5309; amended July 13, 2007, effective July 14, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 3242. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (250327).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 173.4 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4571, 4572 and 6103.