Hello, all. I'm new here, just getting started :D
I'm curious about proper techniques for installing remote start / keyless entry equipment. Here's the scoop. I bought a pre-owned 2001 vehicle recently and found the aftermarket start/entry equipment under the dash while looking for some other stuff. Unfortunately whoever installed it did a pretty crappy job at best.
For example the "brain" and relays and everything are just hanging from their wires. Connections were made with some crimp connections but mostly twisting wires together and taping them. Relays are taped up in a wad and dropped behind a molding panel.
Everything does work though, surprisingly. I just know this is not the proper way of doing things. I do a lot of wiring at work and I try to never use electrical tape, and always solder. At the very least I will be soldering all the connections.
My question is, how should this stuff be attached? Do people normally do it like this, or does a good installer screw everything down somewhere? How should the relays be mounted? I see they all have tabs, should I screw into some metal of the frame and mount them securely, or does everyone just tape them up and drop them somewhere like this? Arent' there such a thing as insulated relay sockets, so they don't have to be put together with spade connectors and taped into a ball?
Thanks all for any insight. If this stuff has been covered before I apologize, all the info I could find here was pretty specific...
Hey. The relays and module should at least be wire tied to something. Screwing them to something works nice too, but isn't always the easiest thing to do depending on the vehicle. Also some cars are setup so that you can just stuff the module or relays someplace and they aren't going to go anywhere, especially if the rest of the wiring is secure. I would still recommend securing them somehow if possible.
There are many different ways of making connections. Butt connectors, soldering, poke/twist/tape, etc. Regardless of what anyone says, if done correctly all these methods will work just fine.
Me personally I use the poke/twist/tape method when tapping into a wire. Strip the wire your tapping into. Take an awl and poke a hole in the middle of the wire. Strip about an inch and a half off of your wire. Put it through the hole and wrap it around the wire securely. Tape it up good and your set. Put a wire tie around the wire for extra security if you want. If your a solder guy, go right ahead and solder the connections can't go wrong..
As for the relays yes they are available prewired with plugin sockets which are nice, but if none are available then you just have to put seperate terminals on all the tabs as you've seen. The sockets also cost a bit more.
"I do a lot of wiring at work and I try to never use electrical tape, and always solder"
Just wondering if your not using tape how are you covering your connections? I would always recommend electrical tape on top of a connection and then some heat shrink on top of that if you want to go the extra mile.
Anyway there's my input every installer develops their own little techniques so I'm sure you'll get some different input as well.
Mike
Here are some relay "plugs". https://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=330-075
I try and solder all connections, but at the very least - butt connectors.
I never just twist and tape (I just don't think its a solid connection.
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itmdtr
"Just wondering if your not using tape how are you covering your connections?"
I try to use insulated sockets and plugs with latches whenever possible. If a mid-wire connection is unavoidable I use heat shrink tubing. Electical tape breaks down over time; it gets gooey or brittle depending on conditions.
Any suggestions on how to mount the relays?
itmdtr, that's exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of, and the correct model for the relays I have! Thanks mucho-