Post by pthib on May 26, 2021 19:44:13 GMT -8
Long time auto mechanic here. Just an FYI for those of you wiring your trailers. When wiring your trailers,a good terminal to use is the crimp and shrink style of connector. Some of you are already aware of them, but possibly some members who haven't done much wiring don't know about them.
They are only a few cents each more than the regular crimp type of connectors. Any good auto supply store should stock them. Many times I have repaired normal crimp connectors that are badly corroded and broken after a couple of years even when well taped.
You crimp them to the wire end normally(use a good quality crimper as mentioned in other posts) and then use a small torch to warm the plastic end. The plastic will shrink and a sealer will seal to the wire insulation. These are excellent to use anywhere that could be possibly exposed to any moisture or salt corrosion. You don't need a fancy torch to heat the plastic, a bbq lighter will do the job. Add a bit of dielectric grease to the inside and the connection will be almost perfectly sealed against moisture and corrosion.
Also as mentioned in other posts, grounds are as important as the power source! Even with 40+ years experience, even I still get occasionally tripped up by grounds!
Many times I have seen lights not working just because the screw through the lamp into the skin is corroded or rusty or the ground from the TV to the trailer is bad. It's easy with the skins off to run a dedicated ground to each light and save a lot of grief later, and it only costs a few dollars more. You don't need to ground each wire, just connect them all together and bolt to bare metal on the trailer frame. Make sure the ground terminals in the TV and trailer connector connects to the frame on the TV and to the trailer frame. Don't rely on the hitch ball for ground to your TV!
Hope this helps with your wiring plans.
They are only a few cents each more than the regular crimp type of connectors. Any good auto supply store should stock them. Many times I have repaired normal crimp connectors that are badly corroded and broken after a couple of years even when well taped.
You crimp them to the wire end normally(use a good quality crimper as mentioned in other posts) and then use a small torch to warm the plastic end. The plastic will shrink and a sealer will seal to the wire insulation. These are excellent to use anywhere that could be possibly exposed to any moisture or salt corrosion. You don't need a fancy torch to heat the plastic, a bbq lighter will do the job. Add a bit of dielectric grease to the inside and the connection will be almost perfectly sealed against moisture and corrosion.
Also as mentioned in other posts, grounds are as important as the power source! Even with 40+ years experience, even I still get occasionally tripped up by grounds!
Many times I have seen lights not working just because the screw through the lamp into the skin is corroded or rusty or the ground from the TV to the trailer is bad. It's easy with the skins off to run a dedicated ground to each light and save a lot of grief later, and it only costs a few dollars more. You don't need to ground each wire, just connect them all together and bolt to bare metal on the trailer frame. Make sure the ground terminals in the TV and trailer connector connects to the frame on the TV and to the trailer frame. Don't rely on the hitch ball for ground to your TV!
Hope this helps with your wiring plans.
