Splicing Trailer Taillight Wires

[dancing bear]

The PO ran the taillight wire through the license plate hole, in Wisconsin he did not need a license plate, but I do in Illinois. I want to cut the wire, to free up the hole, and re-splice it.Can I re-splice the wire with a little solder and regular electrical tape? I am concerned that electrical tape may not be the best product for an occasional submerging. What do you recommend?

 

[GuyT]

Good on the solder - bad on the tape.

Instead of tape, I would heat shrink the solder connection.You can get the heat shrink at radio shack or your marine store. You probably do not have a heat shrink gun so, take the soldering iron and gently rub it back and forth on the heatshrink or take a lighter and hold it above the flame by a couple of inches. The heat shrink will give you very good waterproof results if it is done correctly.

 

[Paul Akers]

Use a Butt Splice

Use a butt splice (special crimping tool req'd) and then fill the connected part with silicon to maintain water-tight integrity.

 

[oreana123]

Overkill

You cannot do too much! Guy T has it right, just make sure you use adhesive lined heat shrink for the most h2o proof connection.

 

[Brian D]

Good advise all around...

But I would recommend replacing the entire harness and use crimp connectors and heat shrink tubing. Don't solder. It could oxidize and eventually fail. Yeah, crimp type connectors can do the same thing, but they are easier to troubleshoot and/or change. Good luck.

 

[George]

Trailer Wiring

All good advice, but I'd consider using only marine shrink tubing. The method of splicing is probably not as important as making sure water and corrosion does not compromise the splice. Ancor brand heat shrink tubing is what you'll see in WM and Boater's World. It is made especially for the marine environment. I usually use a propane tourch but have found that a hair dryer works pretty well if you are patient.This advice applies anywhere on a boat.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

I chickend-out. For our new dingy trailer,

I wired it with NO splices. All I have to avoid now is backing the truck coupling into the water.

 

[Rick Webb]

3M Waterproof Connectors

They make some that youinsert the wire squeeze with pliers and it crimps the wire and squeezes out goop to seal it from water all at the same time. I have seen similar ones made for sprinkler connections. Down here it makes little difference as the bulb fixture rusts out every other year or so. Mine has a clear portion under the light for the plate to be illuminated you sure yours is not the same?

 

[ruedi ross]

they make butt splices with heat shrink

already on the splice. Simply crimp it on and hit it with a heat gun. It seals to the wire insulation with adhesive. You can get them at auto parts stores or ebay.