badjuju342
02-25-2006, 07:30 AM
In the realm of electrical , things are not always as they seem .To get the most out of ANY add on or electrical repair , a few basic principles should be kept in mind.
First and most importantly, the connection itself is critical in proper performance. Taking 2 wires and twisting them together just isn't going to cut it. You will experience intermittent function , if any. ALWAYS use a good solid connection as in the proper guage solderless connector or even better , soldering the connection. Those little Scotchlock connectors seem like a quick and easy solution but they are not. They merely cut into the wire and do not offer a low resistance connection. Over time , the vibration will cause them to move around a bit and eventually heat up and melt. Resistance ( bad connection ) causes heat which in turn compounds the problem. Ever seen a melted harness? It's not very pretty!
Secondly , insulating the connection is another important element.Leaving bare wires everywhere is just asking for trouble. You do want your car to stay original recipe and not extra crispy , correct? Electricity follows the path of least resistance and a direct short to ground is just that . In the best case , you'll blow fuses and in the worst case , fry the entire harness or burn the vehicle to the ground. Water is another culprit , too. It can conduct electricity and wreak havoc on your electrical system . Wrapping a connection in electrical tape isn't a good idea because it can unravel over time or let water in. It's best to use heat shrink or marine grade solderless connectors to keep water out.
Third, circuit protection is critical. ALWAYS use a fuse of the proper rating to protect any given circuit. Once a short has manifested itself , if the circuit isn't fused , the wiring will burn itself right up to it's source of power ( the battery) and take a few things out along the way . Using too large of a fuse will destroy any component that the fuse is over rated for. The circuit is blowing fuses for a reason , putting larger fuses in isn't going to solve the problem. There are rare exceptions to this rule, but not many . It's better to know the proper fuse rating ( measured in amps) and stick with it.
Self resetting circuit breakers are another device to avoid. They can eventually weld their internal contacts together in the case of the short and act as if there isn't a fuse at all. Not good.
Fourth, proper routing of wiring is important. Avoid running power wires in areas that might cut or pinch them as this can produce disastrous results.If you run wires through a metal body panel , use a good quality grommet to insulate the wire from the metal. These are very inexpensive and just good insurance . Another key factor is not to let wiring rub execssively against metal by pulling it too tight or letting it swing . Use wire ties to properly support your wiring , again , very inexpensive insurance. You might want to invest in wiring loom ,too. It neatens up the wiring and adds an extra layer of protection. Also, a little preplanning can go a long way. Instead of routing wire behind a fender, coming through a door opening ,then down the door sill , why not do it right and go through the firewall using an existing gromment or placing one of your own? If the car gets in an accident , you in a lot better shape that way.
Lastly , one of the most overlooked areas out there: grounds. I've seen too many installations where somebody installs 4 or 2 guage for their audio system and then rely on that wimpy little 10 guage body ground . That 's not going to do so hot. Try to keep your grounds an equal guage to your power wire. One of the best easy mods you can do is to install a large ground wire from the battery to the body of the car. When grounding , sand away paint and use a star washer for a solid , trouble free connection. A bare metal screw is also a very good idea. Once you've made your ground, and are confident about it , you can paint over the top of it to prevent corrosion . Always make sure your battery terminals are tight , and not corroded also.
Electrical is not as difficult as some think , a little common sense goes a long way. If you do it right the first time , it will reward you with years of trouble free service.
First and most importantly, the connection itself is critical in proper performance. Taking 2 wires and twisting them together just isn't going to cut it. You will experience intermittent function , if any. ALWAYS use a good solid connection as in the proper guage solderless connector or even better , soldering the connection. Those little Scotchlock connectors seem like a quick and easy solution but they are not. They merely cut into the wire and do not offer a low resistance connection. Over time , the vibration will cause them to move around a bit and eventually heat up and melt. Resistance ( bad connection ) causes heat which in turn compounds the problem. Ever seen a melted harness? It's not very pretty!
Secondly , insulating the connection is another important element.Leaving bare wires everywhere is just asking for trouble. You do want your car to stay original recipe and not extra crispy , correct? Electricity follows the path of least resistance and a direct short to ground is just that . In the best case , you'll blow fuses and in the worst case , fry the entire harness or burn the vehicle to the ground. Water is another culprit , too. It can conduct electricity and wreak havoc on your electrical system . Wrapping a connection in electrical tape isn't a good idea because it can unravel over time or let water in. It's best to use heat shrink or marine grade solderless connectors to keep water out.
Third, circuit protection is critical. ALWAYS use a fuse of the proper rating to protect any given circuit. Once a short has manifested itself , if the circuit isn't fused , the wiring will burn itself right up to it's source of power ( the battery) and take a few things out along the way . Using too large of a fuse will destroy any component that the fuse is over rated for. The circuit is blowing fuses for a reason , putting larger fuses in isn't going to solve the problem. There are rare exceptions to this rule, but not many . It's better to know the proper fuse rating ( measured in amps) and stick with it.
Self resetting circuit breakers are another device to avoid. They can eventually weld their internal contacts together in the case of the short and act as if there isn't a fuse at all. Not good.
Fourth, proper routing of wiring is important. Avoid running power wires in areas that might cut or pinch them as this can produce disastrous results.If you run wires through a metal body panel , use a good quality grommet to insulate the wire from the metal. These are very inexpensive and just good insurance . Another key factor is not to let wiring rub execssively against metal by pulling it too tight or letting it swing . Use wire ties to properly support your wiring , again , very inexpensive insurance. You might want to invest in wiring loom ,too. It neatens up the wiring and adds an extra layer of protection. Also, a little preplanning can go a long way. Instead of routing wire behind a fender, coming through a door opening ,then down the door sill , why not do it right and go through the firewall using an existing gromment or placing one of your own? If the car gets in an accident , you in a lot better shape that way.
Lastly , one of the most overlooked areas out there: grounds. I've seen too many installations where somebody installs 4 or 2 guage for their audio system and then rely on that wimpy little 10 guage body ground . That 's not going to do so hot. Try to keep your grounds an equal guage to your power wire. One of the best easy mods you can do is to install a large ground wire from the battery to the body of the car. When grounding , sand away paint and use a star washer for a solid , trouble free connection. A bare metal screw is also a very good idea. Once you've made your ground, and are confident about it , you can paint over the top of it to prevent corrosion . Always make sure your battery terminals are tight , and not corroded also.
Electrical is not as difficult as some think , a little common sense goes a long way. If you do it right the first time , it will reward you with years of trouble free service.