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Overload of the Day

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,484
Location
Mo
I started out with a NOS brake controller one that hooked into the brake line. It was great but it went bad . I found another just like it steal in the box form 1976. It worked great then it had a problem. I have tried several of the new ones that hook to the brake light switch . I have never found one i like or could get adjusted to work like i wanted it to.
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
Those old Tekonsha controllers that tee into the brake line still show up on ebay now and then NOS. I never thought they worked that good as far as giving the right voltage to the trailer.

I have a couple of old Kelsey Energize controllers and they take constant fiddling. But one has a Tekonsha Prodigy and it is better but still not great.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,544
Location
WWW.
I honestly cannot think of a single application where those Scotch-Locks would be acceptable for use.

Those nasty little wire rot/guillotines became popular because of one company {U Haul}.

When It comes to wiring for commercial trailers Grote and or Philips makes the best harness.
A little pricy but well worth the expense. Utility uses Grote harness and lights warranted for five years.
Rarely have a harness issue, just pigtails and marker lights, the LED tail lights are Grote, the last one
I changed was 4 years ago.
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,484
Location
Mo
Those old Tekonsha controllers that tee into the brake line still show up on ebay now and then NOS. I never thought they worked that good as far as giving the right voltage to the trailer.

I have a couple of old Kelsey Energize controllers and they take constant fiddling. But one has a Tekonsha Prodigy and it is better but still not great.
The first new one i bought I would take off on my trip around 200 miles i didnt have as much brake as i liked know matter how i adjusted it. On the way back the brakes would get stronger and stronger to the point the wheels would lockup . I always drive like i dont have trailer brakes.
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,484
Location
Mo
What do you guys use if a wire needs to be joined to the middle of a wire like were a scotch lock would be?
 

cfherrman

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2022
Messages
1,664
Location
Hays, Kansas
Un pin the wire from the connector, slide heat shrink over it, repin, move heat shrink, remove insulation, solder, heat shrink, done.

I'd cut and solder the wire before using a scotch lock. Those things do everything wrong with a splice
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
Cut wire, insert butt splice, crimp in 2 wires to one end. That is the factory way for those factories that use that style of crimp connector.

They make butt splices that are for a smaller wire size on one end so the bigger end can fit 2 wires, but I find it easier to strip one end twice as long, and fold it back on itself and crimp that way so the crimp terminal is filled better.

There are heat shrink terminals with glue but if water is a problem, I generally fill and smear everything with Scotch Kote instead. All the heat shrink terminals have one issue or another to overcome.

I don't use solder on moving/vibrating equipment.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,544
Location
WWW.
I totally agree with Birken Vogt, using shrink butt connectors plus encasing the whole thing with
shrink tubing. I do it that way-zero problems even 5 to 6 years later. Trailers or tractors come in
I have X amount of time to find the problem correct it and send it down the road legal. I just
don't have the time to spare soldering connections. It's got to go asap-so I repair the fastest
way using shrink connectors and shrink tubing. I use Winzer products and have very good luck.
But I hate hard wiring lights, most pigtails use bullet connectors so instead of cutting those off
and hard wiring I use Peterson 176-496 female bullet connectors so it's back to plug and play.
Dielectric grease is my friend on push together connections.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,099
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
I've never had any luck with heat shrink butt connectors unless they are in the cab of something. At least on equipment you don't have salt and crap getting into them.
 
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