Fuel for Thought

Making Connections

If you carry tools on your truck to perform light mechanical work (or even extensive repairs), you probably have at least basic tools. Inevitably, you will probably need to do some sort of roadside repair to wiring on your truck. Maybe you are just adding some lights or maybe you need to repair a broken wire. 

For many drivers, for many years, you might have just stripped the ends of two or more wires, twisted them together and then “sealed” the connection with electrical tape. While this method will work for an emergency repair, it is far from permanent and even further from being watertight. 

Crimp style butt connectors came along and quickly became the “go to” way of making these connections. These crimp butt connectors work quite well as far as holding the connection together, but again, these are not watertight and over time, can and will lead to corroded wire connections if they are used in places that are exposed to the elements.

Fast forward a few years and heat shrink tubing came along and provided an excellent watertight seal for wire connections. Strip the wire ends, twist together, slide the heat shrink tubing over the connection and apply heat to seal. Just don’t forget to slide the heat shrink tubing over one of the wires before making the connection.

Soldering wires together is probably the best way to make a secure connection, but for many drivers, that is not a tool to carry on the truck. Even when soldering wires, you still need to apply heat shrink to make the connection watertight to avoid corrosion.

For the last couple of years I have been using a newer form of connector for joining wires together. It combines solder with heat shrink tubing all in one. I found solder seal wire connectors on Amazon a few years ago. At first I was skeptical that these would actually work. It seemed to me that the solder would require a higher temperature to melt than the heat shrink would need to seal. I found out that the solder used in these connectors was low temp solder, so it melts easier while you are also sealing the connection. Soldering wires inside of a heat shrink seal creates a solid wire connection that will not pull apart while also making it watertight at the same time. 

I have found these solder seal wire connectors to be an indispensable part of my tool box. They quickly became my preferred method for all wire connections. I was initially concerned about where to carry these on the truck. If low heat can melt the solder and the heat shrink seal, would I have to carry them inside the truck? Well after trying it for a couple of years, I have had them safely stored in my tool box, which can get very hot in the summer, without any issues whatsoever.

Now, whenever I need to repair a wire or just add some wiring while on the road, I can make solid, permanent connections and not have to worry about it later. No more “quick temp fixes” that need to be properly repaired later. Once and done.

It is the neglect of timely repair that makes rebuilding necessary. 

- Richard Whately

See you down the road,

Greg