rubble Posted October 28, 2017 Report Share Posted October 28, 2017 Doing some wiring to my trailer. Had to replace a few old marker lights. Changing all to LED and adding a few. What is best way to make a 3-way connection thatnis watertight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Strip about 3/4" of insulation off of the main wire where you want the side marker wire to tee into it. Strip about an inch off the end of the side marker wire and spiral wrap it around the stripped main wire. Solder them, clean with alcohol, coat with liquid electrical tape, and cover with one or two layers of hot melt lined heatshrink. I rewired my trailer with 16 ga tinned wire, dedicated ground wires, and LEDs about 5 years ago and haven't had a hiccup yet. Lights work every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Just my .02, I ran every light seperate to a junction box including the ground. This keeps from having to rewire everything when a clearance light goes out, makes it easier to trace issues and limits the amount of connections subject to corrosion. It's a pia getting it all set up, but once it's in you are good.for years, saves tI'm tracing issues and makes changing failed lights much easier. I used marine grade triplex and duplex and left extra coiled up in the I beams for future use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubble Posted October 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Curious how you terminated/connected at the junction box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Terminal box is up in the front of the trailer, basically just a ring terminal connection. The box is water resistant and sealed pretty good. I'll try to get pics today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonV Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Yes Sir the proper way to do it. Each light.....why do trailers need so many lights anyway....has it's own dedicated feed, NO openings spliced into the main feed like they do on new trailers. As you say takes an extra bit of time however it's pretty much "one and done"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubble Posted October 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 On 10/29/2017 at 8:06 AM, FLDXT said: Terminal box is up in the front of the trailer, basically just a ring terminal connection. The box is water resistant and sealed pretty good. I'll try to get pics today. Like this one? https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Spectro/38656.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz8v9je6Y1wIV1bfACh0SUQ5OEAQYAiABEgIIh_D_BwE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Yes, cheaper on Amazon. I mounted mine in the upright I beam going to my winch in the front of the trailer. Ez to work on and keeps it dry. I used marine grade wire, duplex and triplex and made sure I bought light with their own ground wire, grounding to trailer at different locations through hardware is not preferred. All my light are grounded in the box through a dedicated ground wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubble Posted October 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 I have a MagicTilt which uses a frame Tube to go to winch so I will have to use on side I-beam where it meets the center tube going to tongue and winch support. Did uou find wire on amazon as well? Only thing i could find was 12ga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 No, I used genuinedealz.com. anywhere out of the way where it will stay dry and you can work on will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonV Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 Ditto on Genuinedealz. I've ordered custom cables, heat shrink, heat shrink butt connectors, 50' rolls of 14 ga wire, etc., etc.. I usually order the adhesive heat shrink in rather large quantities, always nice to have when you need it and not have to go buy some cheap stuff.....or run to WM and pay out the waazzo!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 I use adhesive, heat shrink butt splices, then follow up with adhesive hest shrink over the butt splice and then liquid electric tape over that on all connections at the lights that wold get dunked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubble Posted October 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 Are you all using 16ga for lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDXT Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 16 ga or 14 ga, can't remember, either woukd be fine, those LED do not draw a lot of power. You could probably get away with 18 but I'm no electrical expert. I always go bigger than I need just because, rather be safe than sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 16 awg is plenty. Also, bestboatwire.com is the same store as genuinedealz, but they have different pricing and shipping cost. Depending on what and how much you are buying, one of them will be cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.