making connections??
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=8981
Printed Date: September 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Topic: making connections??
Posted By: emorse2323
Subject: making connections??
Date Posted: February 02, 2003 at 9:34 PM
I was wondering how everyone makes there connections when hooking up a alarm in a car, I know alot do soldering, what does everyone else do?? What are some good techniques?
Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: February 02, 2003 at 10:18 PM
If you want to do it right, solder and heat shrink or use good 3m electrical tape where necessary. There is no substitute. Others will argue... but the facts are if you know how to solder correctly it is foolproof. I have never, ever had a vehicle come back because of a bad connection. You also need to use enough electrical tape so that it is thick enough that no wires will cut through. Then wrap or rewrap the harness your wires are in. When buying tape, these are the only 2 kinds you should buy. Nothing else compares. https://www.3m.com/product/s_index/Scotch%AE_Super_88+_Vinyl_Electrical_Tape_(BK)_00.jhtml#TopOfPage https://www.3m.com/product/s_index/Scotch%AE_Super_33+_Vinyl_Electrical_Tape_(HA)_00.jhtml#TopOfPage
Posted By: jrilla
Date Posted: February 02, 2003 at 11:18 PM
Solder is the only way to go. It realy does not take any more time then other methods, considering the work you would have to do in order to make a non-soldered connectiong last a lifetime of heating and cooling. Player69, do you heatshrink everything? I heatshrink everytime I cut a wire, but I never cut ignition and power wires except of course the starter wire. and where do you get the 33+ tape from I ge tthat also but it costs an arm and a leg and I haven't been able to find it cheaper then about $3.50/roll. ------------- J Rilla
Owner/Installer
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: February 02, 2003 at 11:26 PM
I only heatshrink when i cut a wire. I do not cut wires if i don't have to. The 33+ tape costs and arm and a leg thats for sure. Just look at the money your saving in connectors :) I am so quick at soldering after years of doing it, I don't think it is any slower then connectors. And the difference is, I only get to see the vehicles once :) If you use connectors eventually you will see the vehicle again.
Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 6:54 AM
where do you guys snag power and stuff like that if you don't cut ignition and power wires? Do you mean you don't cut them in half?....or do you just cut away the rubber cover and solder onto the wire? Thanks :-)
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 8:24 AM
I don't cut wires when I don't have to, but I do strip them back like player69 said. All power wires I try to get at the ignition harness. It's the shortest distance to the RS or alarm CPU and it doesn't take any extra time to get to if you have the dash all apart.
-------------
Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 8:47 AM
Phew, I thought I was missing something. I strip back the wire, too, for most of my connections. Any tips on doing this? I usually use the wire stipper, and then sometimes a blade to cut along the cover to remove it. Works pretty well for me....althought it's a lot harder when it's very cold out.
Posted By: jrilla
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 8:57 AM
That is how i do it just use the wire stripper to cut it in 2 spots about a 1/3 of an inch apart, then cut along it with a blade. Soldering goes very fast for me too, but sometimes I have to wait for the iron to heat up and that is annoying sometimes. I use a cordless butane iron that works great, but sometimes it takes a minute to heat up. i know a minute isn't a lot of time, but it sure feels like a long time when you are waiting for it. ------------- J Rilla
Owner/Installer
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 9:18 AM
You mean you guys don't have a laser wire coating remover?  Yeah right, I wish!
Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 9:29 AM
I guess my wire stripper doesn't work as well as it used to....sometimes when I cut the 2 spots (like jrilla mentioned), I wind up cutting a bit of the wire, and a few strands fall out. I hate that. I need a new stripper.
Posted By: jrilla
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 9:51 AM
Some guy asked me one time if I burned off the insullation. I thought what kind of idea is that, I would likely set myself on fire before I set a car on fire. Does anyone actually do that?
-------------
J Rilla
Owner/Installer
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: February 03, 2003 at 12:11 PM
It would just make a big sticky mess if your burned them off. I cut my igntion wires with a knife. For smaller guage wires I have a pair of strippers that strip about 1/2 and inch off the wire automatically. It cuts the coating in the middle then pulls the insulation to each side of the cut automatically. Sure is handy :)
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