Splicing and soldering into Wiring Loom

[1200det]

Im just after some feedback on different ways that people would cut / solder into a wiring harness ?

The likes of terminating some wires ( SAFC ) and soldering into the loom near the ECU ?

Damn thats kinda hard to explain what im wanting to do

[Hen]

If you need to split a wire out of the current loom and send it to the SAFC, I use the following method:

- CAREFULLY cut a short length (8-10mm) of the plastic coating off a wire (all the way around) in the loom (wire 1)
- Strip the end of another piece of wire (wire 2)
- Wrap the end of wire 2 around the stripped section of wire 1
- Get it hot with a soldering iron and solder them together

The biggest problem is that you have to tape the joint as there is usually no way of getting a section of heatshrink onto the right spot.

Or you could do the same as above but crimp them together rather than solder.

Hen

[1200det]

Thats along the lines of how i usually do it but the only thing that bugs me is as you said the failure to be able to use heatshrink.

[Cool1]

- CAREFULLY cut a short length (8-10mm) of the plastic coating off a wire (all the way around) in the loom (wire 1)
- Strip the end of another piece of wire (wire 2)
- Wrap the end of wire 2 around the stripped section of wire 1
- Get it hot with a soldering iron and solder them together

The biggest problem is that you have to tape the joint as there is usually no way of getting a section of heatshrink onto the right spot.

This is the perfect way to do it.
But when you insulate the wires, use some self amalgamating tape which will bond togeather. The problem with this is that its difficult to find the thin stuff.

[Cuzzo]

whats so good about heat shrink i always tape up my joins. is there somethng wrong with tapeing?

[Hen]

Yeah, unless you can pull one end of the wire out of the loom then you are stuffed as far as heatshrink goes.

Maybe some people more knowledgeable than me know of some product like heatshrink split loom though.

Hen

EDIT - Beaten to it.

And I don't like taping because it leaves sticky crap on everything, doesn't look as neat as heatshrink and is harder to do.

[Cool1]

whats so good about heat shrink i always tape up my joins. is there somethng wrong with tapeing?

Most of your average tape will become slimey and eventually fall off!

[Draven]

and in the engine bay it becomes brittle and breaks off! heatshrink is always the best bet if possible.

[Grant]

I always cut the wire in half, slide the heatshrink on (and positioned far enough away so it doesn't start to shrink when you are soldering), twist the joiner wire on, solder the 2 wires back together then slide the heatshrink over and shrink it. Takes a bit longer but a much better result and no problem of tape ever comming off.

[RobertoX]

In the past I've cut the wire to be tapped into, put a crimp on each end of the wire with the 'tap' wire put into one of the crimps. This way you wont need to solder ( lol I hate soldering with a passion) and can also fit heat shrink over the wires.
You should just make sure that on the crimp with the double wire firmly grabs the insulation for propper strength. Then the two crimp terminals just join each other, I have never had a problem doing it this way.

[JustCallMeOrlando]

I used Grant's approach when I did the wiring for my car. I'm going to put a different loom in my car shortly, and will be taking the same approach...only now I have to get the damn thing undone

[The Witzl]

Yep i use the grant method.

Except in some extreme impatience cases where i seriously cant be arsed stripping back the loom far enough to slide up the heatshrink far enough for it to not shrink on me whilst soldering.

Crimp connectors i save only for cases where i will HAVE to disconnect that wire for any service reasons..... and even then i use moulded plugs with crimp terminals, and solder the terminals after crimping

Solder is good.
Not as good as cable ties though.

[rob1]

This is the perfect way to do it.
But when you insulate the wires, use some self amalgamating tape which will bond togeather. The problem with this is that its difficult to find the thin stuff.

If you need the thin self amalgamating tape, try and find someone who works for Telstra. The field guys have heaps as it's used alot in junction boxes.

[Cool1]

I have no problem cause I have heaps of it.

[takai]

If you are trying to get the insulation of the wire it is much easier to just use the soldering iron to melt the plastic and then just scrape off what is left of the insulation. Much more effective and saves on accidentally cutting wires.