[bluefront]

With insulated crimp terminals.....available at hardware stores, auto parts stores, etc. They make auto wiring easier, and usually are better than a totally soldered together new harness. For one reason....you'll probably want to change things around if it's your own car.

In most of my own setups, I use quick release connectors at every connection point. The one thing to be sure of.....the quality of the crimp itself. There's only one tool to use IMHO. It's the blue handled lineman's tool in the photo.

It will make a perfect crimp every time. I've used this tool for maybe ten years....never had a single bad crimp. There are cheaper crimpers....don't touch the things. This one costs about $10. It will last you forever....or until you lose it. I decided to make a small set of harnesses for the battery terminals.....so I only needed to attach a single harness that had multiple connectors. I always solder the wire ends for connections on the battery,,,so I tinned the wire ends first, before I used the crimper.

When making connections like this at the battery, you need to fuse each separate wire going to the positive terminal. Put the fuse as close to the battery as possible. I have seen dozens of examples of un-fused wires going to batteries.....very stupid, very dangerous.

I recently added a few more circuits under the hood.....hence the wiring upgrade. There are many ways to add wiring to your Focus....might as well do it right. You won't regret it.

 

[focusboy5]

ok thanks

 

[FocusedSlayer]

Crimpers like that are what everyone needs , I have a set myself and use them all the time. I also like to use heat shrink tubing just as a safety precaution.

 

[focus_guy_03]

A soldered and heat shrinked connection will be as good as, if not better than the quick disconnects, BUT for where you are using them, that's not a bad idea.

Mike

 

[KRUZMSL]

A soldered and heat shrinked connection will be as good as, if not better than the quick disconnects

Mike

I agree with BETTER IMHO. [cheers]

 

[bluefront]

Non-insulated terminals, soldered connections and heat-shrink tubing make for somewhat better/safer connections...... but the operation certainly is not easy, compared to the crimper and insulated terminals, and it takes probably 4x as long.

If you use that linesman crimper, the connections won't come apart, period. I'd trust the operation practically everywhere, except on 10ga or larger wires. For those large wires I try for a soldered connection.

 

[focus_guy_03]

When doing headunits at my old job (local audio shop), it took me no longer to solder each wire (wire to wire, without non-insulated terminals) than it would to have used insulated, crimped terminals. Although we didn't heatshrink, we did wrap each connection with electrical tape.

Not knocking your way of doing things, but it is possible for it to be just as quick/easy/good to solder as it would to use a linesman crimper.

Mike

 

[highrollenzx3]

connections like this are NOT an option in high-end installs, howevever they are a fantastic everyday way to do your connections. unless your out for the the best this is def. second best. but most people dont go through the trouble of tinning then crimping. the most important thing in wiring to remember is amp draw. for example a 10g wire can carry 15 amps per foot but every crimp connection brings it down 4 inches. great post i see alot of people benefiting from this. i have to admit i dont always solder/heat shrink because its not always needed. the important part is knowing what is needed for that specific application.

 

[svtguy88]

I always solder and shrink tube (or electrical tape, whichever is handy) my stuff. The quick connects are great in some applications, but Wisconsin winters have a tendency to get moisture EVERYWHERE. I've seen too many of these connectors overridden with corrosion for me to use them in places that are a pain to get at (such as behind a deck).

However, they are awesome for other projects.

 

[evanjfrancis]

great n simple =)