theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on May 17, 2018 12:03:23 GMT -8
I'm shopping.... my plan for my 7 way tow wiring is to solder and heat shrink any butt end connections and using heat shrink ring terminal connectors where necessary. Has anyone purchased a large kit that has an assortment of all sizes that they'd recommend? Also, favorite electrical wire pliers if any crimping is necessary?
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Bob92057
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1955 Pleasurecraft - 13'
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Post by Bob92057 on May 17, 2018 14:30:04 GMT -8
I just ordered all new trailer light wire for mine. All individual wires, not the flat.
I'm going to try to keep all connections accessible, not behind the skin and will probably go with crimp connections. When I had my boat I rewired that trailer using waterproof crimps. I Might check into that too.
Following here for all advice and suggestions.
Bob
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Post by vikx on Jun 11, 2018 22:25:07 GMT -8
Theresa, use J boxes to connect your wires with wing nuts. No crimps necessary. I use a 2 gang box near the trailer tongue for 7 way/tow wiring connections and run a hot wire up into the trailer to the fuse box from that. There are weatherproof wing nuts, but they are usually not needed.
I always use wire long enough to prevent joints unless in a Junction Box.
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shastatom
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I can chase women or fix campers, I choose to fix what I understand........... campers.
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Shasta 54,57 1500 58 Airflyte
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Post by shastatom on Jun 12, 2018 4:12:58 GMT -8
If I have to splice wires together I will solder them and then shrink wrap. I don't like connectors if exposed to the elements. I also ran all my light wires inside along with my 7 pin connector under the front seat. It does add holes in floor for an in 7 pin, power cables to battery and an out to the lights but if you gauge the wire and drill bit you have a good tight hole and a bit of caulk and you should be good. You could also use rubber grommets I suppose. I just never want to pull the back skin off to fix the wiring. (OK let me dream at least)
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paxtonshasta
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http://paxtonshasta.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-did-we-do.html
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1962 Shasta
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Post by paxtonshasta on Jun 12, 2018 4:44:01 GMT -8
I have purchased many sets from amazon. The heat shrink ones seem to all have similar quality. But as for crimpers, I like the ratcheting ones.
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SimonTuffGuy
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1973 Shasta 1400
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jun 20, 2018 10:55:54 GMT -8
The original 7 pin harness on mine was shot and rusted through. I bought an Epicord harness and junction box from etrailer (https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Epicord/277-000141.html). The original wiring for my running/turn/brake lights all came up inside the closet right next to the water tank (73 Shasta 1400). This junction box came pre-terminated from the 7-pin side, I took them out of the box so that I could run that along the frame and up inside the camper. I left a little extra length around the original wires running around the camper, threw on ring connectors, and then connected them in that junction box. The junction box itself has each wire separated by a plastic divider piece so that can't end up touching.
I plan to do the same thing when I wire up the brakes, battery power, etc, which I haven't tackled yet.
When I wired on new lights, I used wire nuts (which is what was in place before). I've gone the solder and heatshrink route before, which would work, but there wasn't a ton of extra cable to mess around with in the event I'd need to replace ever (aside from rewiring everything with new wire, which I wasn't really interested in doing if I didn't need to.
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oakback
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Post by oakback on Jun 22, 2018 5:08:58 GMT -8
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Post by vikx on Jun 22, 2018 20:25:59 GMT -8
We've already had that discussion the terms are interchangeable. Wire nuts are sometimes sold as Wing nuts...
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Jun 23, 2018 10:12:11 GMT -8
I was quite surprised to see wire nuts marketed with the Wing Nuts name on the package. However, in the trades, they are two different things. You will never hear an electrician refer to a wire nut as a wing nut.
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Post by vikx on Jun 23, 2018 19:58:37 GMT -8
I think "wing" nuts refer to the little wings to help tighten the wire nuts...
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Jun 24, 2018 3:08:43 GMT -8
And I like those when trying to tie 3-4 wires together. Beats having to drag out a pair or pliers to get them tight!
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charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Jun 24, 2018 3:58:51 GMT -8
Terminology can be critical in some cases, although in this case it’s probably not much worse than an inconvenience. It looks to me like everyone knows what a wire nut is. Even a wire nut with wings is still a wire nut. And we’ve proven that “wing nut” can be ambiguous. Probably would be prudent to use “wire nut” when referring to joining wires together and “wing nut” when referring to the nut that threads onto a bolt.
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chriss
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Post by chriss on Jul 1, 2018 8:36:25 GMT -8
I like to use these euro style terminal connectors. You can break them off for individual splices or make a terminal block www.amazon.com/Position-Style-Nylon-Barrier-Strip/dp/B0050CF4QIAll my connections are accessible, either in the light housings or in a cabinet or under a bed. Nothing against wirenuts or soldering, but these are more descreet and allow for easier maintenance.
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Post by vikx on Jul 1, 2018 19:55:13 GMT -8
You'll have to keep correcting me. I've been calling them wing nuts for a long time... I use plastic J boxes inside the cupboards for connections with wire nuts.
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