Basic Wire Splicing?
 

OK so this might seem like a little thing but those are the ones that always seem to get me in the end.

What is the "right way" to splice into turn signal/tail light wires? I am installing trailer wiring (for a mini track tire and jack trailer) and I want to make 100% trouble free, never have to think about it again splices.

The wiring kit came with squeeze down connectors similar to these:

http://news.thomasnet.com/images/large/451/451197.jpg

First of all they look really bad and second I am pretty sure using these will have me doing a pocket knife and racers tape repair in a McDonald's parking lot during a thunderstorm and while such stories of my misery are always a hit at happy hour I would just assume not.

Anyone have a trade secret, never fails wire splicing formula they care to share?

soldering is the best in my book and then shrink tubing to cover the splice, it's strong, reliable and lasts and is very neat. I hate those cheap plastic things and you're right about doing a repair in some parking lot with thunder banging in the background and rain coming down like cats and dogs.

don't use scotchlock type connectors......they will eventually fail and sometimes break the wire it's tapped into.
i would strip back the wire to be tapped, use a test light or pick to separate the wire which you will wrap your added wire through, then wrap it around tightly and tape, put a zip tie around the tape and splice and it will never ever fail.
you could solder if you want a permament connection.

You're right about that rubbish pictured at top.

A second on the soldering and heat shrink tubing. Can't fail,

ianc

Solder.
Then use "liquid electrical tape" over the joint to prevent moisture.
Then use heat shrink tubing with an adhesive center.

Try this thread for some ideas: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=249698&highlight=western+union+so lder

I've used those crap connectors and a year or two down the road, had the main wire break........Then I'm TU..............

Scotch locks are good to get you back on the road if you break down somewhere, and then promptly repaired correctly when you get home!

Previous posts said it all....

If it's inside the car, you could use a crimp splice and run a pigtail off one of the ends - but it's almost as much work as soldering, and still not as good.

for entertainment


In one of my marine wire books...marine ABYC standards is satisfied w/quick connections if it will stay together with a 10# pull on #18 wire and a 40# on #10 wire pull or more. And have a voltage drop of under 50mV w/a 20 amp current.

Thanks for the information, I knew those things just didn't seem like a good idea.

The link to the previous discussion was also very helpful, not sure how I missed that one when I searched...