suzook12 Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 First thing I will say here, is if you don't understand electrics, leave it alone and find someone that does, preferably the non stetson wearing, colt 45 carrying type. Usually easy to spot and for the visually impaired, listen out for the jangling of spurs...... Ok, so that out the way...... First tool to mention, the multimeter Multimeter There are loads of these around with many different functions. The main functions you need are AC and DC volts, Resistance and a very useful one, Hz. Aim for around the £30 mark to get a decent meter for DIY level, if you intent to do a lot, names suh as AVO and Fluke....... Clampmeter If you want one of these, check the specs to make sure it does what you want, it could be a very expensive mistake to make. Usually, you would use one to measure amps (they do the V and Ohms as well) as this is what sets them apart from a Multimeter. Crimps Cheap really is not your friend here. The 2 main types for automotive cable are the insulated and non insulated, and they require different crimps. I'll start with non insulated as these are primarily what I use. Pictured above, non insulated type terminals These are the pliers I use for these. You can buy ratchet crimps, but not found the need on this type of terminal Insulated terminals I try and stay away from, but, used with high quality pliers are fine. The ones used in the rail and aero industries are very expensive, like £300+, but that is where you need to be for reliable crimping..... At the very least use GOOD ratchet crimps There are other crimps for battery leads etc, but for this thread, we will stick to basic tools.... Other Tools So what else? Side cutters, wire strippers, insulated screwdrivers..... It really depends how far you want to take your wiring. Hand tools, stay away from the cheapest as stated above, quality really does score in this section Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 Some other items to have at hand when tackling a wiring job. Heat Shrink. An absolute must and not that expensive, can be bought ready cut in various sizes or as a length/roll to trim yourself. It comes in various different colours so you could even have a colour code system going on with the heat shrink. Remember to put the heat shrink on first! Fuses Always have plenty of fuses of each and every type you use, keep a good stock on the boat as well Tape Several types to consider. Harness tape, the non sticky stuff tou wrap around a loom or spur from a loom to protect it, held in place with heatshrink. Self amalgamating tape, again to wrap around a harness for protection, bonds itself together to form a more reliable sheath. Insulating, or insulting tape as I often refer to it, ok as a get you home temp fix, but better suited for taping wires together when harness making Gas Soldering Iron These things are brilliant, can be used for shrinking heatshrink to soldering multi wire splices. Just remember to carry a lighter and a gas can JDP and Saintly Fish 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiFishing Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 2 hours ago, suzook12 said: Heat Shrink. An absolute must and not that expensive, can be bought ready cut in various sizes or as a length/roll to trim yourself. It comes in various different colours so you could even have a colour code system going on with the heat shrink. Remember to put the heat shrink on first! I love the adhesive filled heatshrink. But do check wiring correct first once heated only way back involves sidecutters! Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 34 minutes ago, WiFishing said: I love the adhesive filled heatshrink. But do check wiring correct first once heated only way back involves sidecutters! Of course I've never ever done that...... Hahahaha🤣 Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 3 hours ago, WiFishing said: I love the adhesive filled heatshrink. But do check wiring correct first once heated only way back involves sidecutters! Oh, and welcome to Offshore Outlaws! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 3 hours ago, WiFishing said: 5 hours ago, suzook12 said: I love the adhesive filled heatshrink. But do check wiring correct first once heated only way back involves sidecutters! Welcome to the Offshore outlaws. We don’t have many women here apart from @JonC who’s a BIG girl. So anyWI member is welcome. What branch do you represent ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiFishing Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 5 hours ago, Saintly Fish said: Welcome to the Offshore outlaws. We don’t have many women here apart from @JonC who’s a BIG girl. So anyWI member is welcome. What branch do you represent ? WI is Scottish area. 🙂 Saintly Fish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiFishing Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Thanks for the Welcome messages. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Just now, WiFishing said: Thanks for the Welcome messages. Cheers Please put up an intro about yourself ! 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captin slows old outlaw Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 On 10/19/2020 at 11:30 AM, WiFishing said: I love the adhesive filled heatshrink. But do check wiring correct first once heated only way back involves sidecutters! welcome , i hop you like it here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 Just to add to @suzook12's post on Electrical tools, you really do get what you pay for. I've had two different crimpers at the cheap end of the spectrum and both times they've started to bend out of shape at the hinge pin when crimping firmly. On one of them the jaws started to open up so that they would never meet properly when closed. Buyer beware! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 Proper crimp tools are expensive...... These are £175 2nd hand..... And calibration is out of date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 1 hour ago, suzook12 said: Proper crimp tools are expensive...... These are £175 2nd hand..... And calibration is out of date If you’re going to be using any tool regularly then it’s a no brainer to buy the best you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 10/21/2020 at 2:38 PM, Andy135 said: Just to add to @suzook12's post on Electrical tools, you really do get what you pay for. I've had two different crimpers at the cheap end of the spectrum and both times they've started to bend out of shape at the hinge pin when crimping firmly. On one of them the jaws started to open up so that they would never meet properly when closed. Buyer beware! Mine are from RS Components (used to be Radiospares) and are the best part of 40 years old ............. still going strong ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 2 hours ago, GPSguru said: Mine are from RS Components (used to be Radiospares) and are the best part of 40 years old ............. still going strong ............. Yeah, I've had good stuff from them over the years. Their actual crimps are of a good quality too..... Used their crimps by the 1000 on rolling stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 10/16/2020 at 11:47 AM, suzook12 said: here are other crimps for battery leads etc Indeed, and anything of quality is mega expensive ............... however there is an alternative method Use a bucket solder eye and fill the bucket end with molten solder, then carefully tin the prepared end of cable ........... slide the end of the cable into the molten solder bucket and wait for it to cool down ............ when cooled carefully pull a length of RayChem (glued heatshrink) over the joint and allow enough to extend about 70 - 100mm along the cable sheath, then shrink it into place ............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDP Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 (edited) On 10/19/2020 at 6:58 PM, suzook12 said: Some other items to have at hand when tackling a wiring job. Heat Shrink. An absolute must and not that expensive, can be bought ready cut in various sizes or as a length/roll to trim yourself. It comes in various different colours so you could even have a colour code system going on with the heat shrink. Remember to put the heat shrink on first! Fuses Always have plenty of fuses of each and every type you use, keep a good stock on the boat as well Tape Several types to consider. Harness tape, the non sticky stuff tou wrap around a loom or spur from a loom to protect it, held in place with heatshrink. Self amalgamating tape, again to wrap around a harness for protection, bonds itself together to form a more reliable sheath. Insulating, or insulting tape as I often refer to it, ok as a get you home temp fix, but better suited for taping wires together when harness making Gas Soldering Iron These things are brilliant, can be used for shrinking heatshrink to soldering multi wire splices. Just remember to carry a lighter and a gas can I had years of messing about trying to use a low cost ellectric soldering tool with poor success. Recently went over to using a little dremel gas soldering tool which has attachments for hot knife rope cutting and a heat shrink attatchmeant and now my connections look very professional. This tool wasn't expensive and seems to run for a good amount of time on the easy to fill gas. There are plenty of UK YouTube videos that convinced me this was the tool to get. When I use heat shrink Ive been putting dialectic grease over my connection, when the heat shrink squeezes down on the wire the grease oozes out ( might not be the way to go but haven't had any problem ). Edited November 24, 2020 by JDP SiDfish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 29 minutes ago, GPSguru said: Indeed, and anything of quality is mega expensive ............... however there is an alternative method Use a bucket solder eye and fill the bucket end with molten solder, then carefully tin the prepared end of cable ........... slide the end of the cable into the molten solder bucket and wait for it to cool down ............ when cooled carefully pull a length of RayChem (glued heatshrink) over the joint and allow enough to extend about 70 - 100mm along the cable sheath, then shrink it into place ............... Another alternative for battery leads is the "hammer on" terminals, although we always did them in the vice for welding cables and they would last the distance SiDfish and captin slows old outlaw 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captin slows old outlaw Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 i have tried the hamer but i now use the vice as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I bought a pair of ratchet crimping pliers last week, not really expensive ones, an about £30 sealey pair. I never knew they were a thing before, always struggled with the crappie single action cheapo things before that have never been any good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 2 hours ago, JonC said: I bought a pair of ratchet crimping pliers last week, not really expensive ones, an about £30 sealey pair. I never knew they were a thing before, always struggled with the crappie single action cheapo things before that have never been any good. Not a bad price range Jon, and you should get a few years service out of them. When I was younger, I bought a cheap pair off the market. They were great for a long while then suddenly stopped crimping tight enough..... Quality of the crimps can play a part too, the RS supplied ones are good, no doubt there are others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 4 hours ago, suzook12 said: Not a bad price range Jon, and you should get a few years service out of them. When I was younger, I bought a cheap pair off the market. They were great for a long while then suddenly stopped crimping tight enough..... Quality of the crimps can play a part too, the RS supplied ones are good, no doubt there are others The ones I bought although not top drawer were lifetime guarantee, not sure if that’s my lifetime or theirs though! Can’t see me taking them back in a years time let alone 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted December 4, 2020 Author Share Posted December 4, 2020 On 12/3/2020 at 2:59 PM, JonC said: The ones I bought although not top drawer were lifetime guarantee, not sure if that’s my lifetime or theirs though! Can’t see me taking them back in a years time let alone 10 years. Keep at the KFC's and that could be quite a short warranty then.....?? On a serious note tho, you don't have to spend a massive amount until calibration is required, then it gets expensive....... daio web and SiDfish 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daio web Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 On 12/4/2020 at 3:04 PM, suzook12 said: Keep at the KFC's and that could be quite a short warranty then.....?? On a serious note tho, you don't have to spend a massive amount until calibration is required, then it gets expensive....... interesting post mate just totally rewired my boat used marine grad cable but used insulated crimps and not soldered would you reconmend me solder every termination many thanks daio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share Posted February 6, 2022 1 hour ago, daio web said: interesting post mate just totally rewired my boat used marine grad cable but used insulated crimps and not soldered would you reconmend me solder every termination many thanks daio Theres two schools of thought on this, there are automotive lads that will solder every time, I came from that background so tend to use non insulate then crimp and solder, then slide the insulation over. The aircraft and train boys say no, don't solder, and again, I have worked in the rail industry for quite a few years. The big difference is quality of crimps and pliers. Not just any old crimps off of the market (or ebay these days) but proper quality items from the likes of RS, who supply rail and aircraft industries... Decent pliers fetch around £250 used on the open market, or ermmm get borrowed from the railways..... Quality makes the difference mate. I won't use insulated crimps unless they are quality ones, much preferring non insulated. Excess solder can make the wire brittle and cause it to snap under vibration. To be fair, I've never had that happen on any of the bikes I've wired over the years. What made me switch was the terminals for most multiblocks use latched non insulated terminals. Whatever method you use, make sure you do a pull test on every crimp, you don't want and important wire coming adrift halfway across the Bristol Channel daio web and Andy135 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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