Incompatible ARB Compressor and Switch-Pros Harness (1 Viewer)

[ArkansasOvrland]

I am trying to install a Switch-Pros 9100 but am running into a problem connecting it to my ARB twin compressor. The ARB plug is on the left and the Switch-Pro harness connector in on the right in the image below. As can be seen, the two will not mate: the ARB contacts are higher than are the Switch-Pros'. I can mate them if I turn one connector upside down, which then has the harness wires going to the wrong ARB contacts and connectors cannot lock together. The Switch-Pros' representative has said that they have not encountered this problem previously. I find it hard to believe since my compressor is only three years old.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? If you have an ARB twin compressor, please take and post a photo of its connector. I am curious if I'm an outlier, or if other ARB compressors have the same connector as do mine.

 

[TeCKis300]

Hrmm.. At least one of the blades is tweaked up in the left ARB connector. Possibly true for the low row blades too?

Try using your finger or a flat blade screwdriver to align them?

 

[ArkansasOvrland]

Hrmm.. At least one of the blades is tweaked up in the left ARB connector. Possibly true for the low row blades too?

Try using your finger or a flat blade screwdriver to align them?

View attachment 3639851

That will not solve the problem. The connectors themselves are part of the problem. The ARB has an extension below each contact while the Switch-Pros has a mating indent above. They can only mate when one connector is upside down.

 

[brasskey]

Did you call Switch-Pros? It’s been a few years, but I have a 9100 and used their adapter for a ARB twin and had no issues. So, something is off on the 9100 or ARB side if they don’t match up.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Ummmmm

Flip the plug 180…

Look at the T shaped indentations inside the plug and the corner grooves on the outside edges

Unless I’m losing my mind (possible) looks like you have it upside down

 

[ArkansasOvrland]

Ummmmm

Flip the plug 180…

Look at the T shaped indentations inside the plug and the corner grooves on the outside edges

Unless I’m losing my mind (possible) looks like you have it upside down

I don't think you're losing your mind, but if you look at the two connectors, you will notice that the latch is at the top of each of them. Flipping one over will not allow the two to latch. They can connect but the wires are in the wrong location.

 

[Boston Mangler]

I don't think you're losing your mind, but if you look at the two connectors, you will notice that the latch is at the top of each of them. Flipping one over will not allow the two to latch. They can connect but the wires are in the wrong location.

De-pin it and move the wires

 

[bloc]

The male pin that is lower appears to be inserted into the connector upside down. The metal tang that holds it in isn’t visible like the others. And in fact it seems to have an indentation on the bottom suggesting the tang is pointed upward.

Have you checked a wiring diagram to determine which wires do what? That could help you figure out if it’s upside down or not. Personally if the terminals all seat positively I wouldn’t be very worried about the latch being in the wrong spot. Maybe reinforce it with some good harness tape if you are concerned.

 

[ArkansasOvrland]

The male pin that is lower appears to be inserted into the connector upside down. The metal tang that holds it in isn’t visible like the others. And in fact it seems to have an indentation on the bottom suggesting the tang is pointed upward.

Have you checked a wiring diagram to determine which wires do what? That could help you figure out if it’s upside down or not. Personally if the terminals all seat positively I wouldn’t be very worried about the latch being in the wrong spot. Maybe reinforce it with some good harness tape if you are concerned.

I've decided that trying to use the Switch-Pros connector is a losing battle; I just spliced into the ARB harness and will return the Switch-Pros.

 

[Fisher23]

It looks like it will work if you turn one of them 180 degrees.

Then lock will not align but the connectors look like they would connect.

 

[ArkansasOvrland]

I understand that there are a variety of options for getting the two connectors to mate, but the problem I was trying to address is, "Why is this the case?" Why are the ARB connectors not compatible with the Switch-Pros connectors? I've checked my other connectors as well as on-line, and it appears that most of them are similar to the Switch-Pros. Maybe the problem is that ARB is Australian, and as a result, they do things upside down.

 

[skrypj]

To me it just looks like they put the "female" blade connectors in upside down on the switchpro connector and they could just be flipped so that the curled part is down. Release the connector, pull from the housing, rotate 180*, reinsert into the housing.

 

[Boston Mangler]

To me it just looks like they put the "female" blade connectors are upside down on the switchpro connector and they could just be flipped so that the curled part is down. Release the connector, pull from the housing, rotate 180*, reinsert into the housing.

Bingo

 

[eatSleepWoof]

// disregard - bloc is right on this one

 

[HSTexan]

I think bloc is the only one who nailed it; you’d have to use it without the clip latch (in blue) by flipping one of the plugs 180°. The way the plug is molded (with the latches connecting) has one side with a right side up T and one side with an upside down T (in red). No amount of repinning will make the plug fit together and be able to use the latch

 

[skrypj]

I think bloc is the only one who nailed it; you’d have to use it without the clip latch (in blue) by flipping one of the plugs 180°. The way the plug is molded (with the latches connecting) has one side with a right side up T and one side with an upside down T (in red). No amount of repinning will make the plug fit together and be able to use the latch

View attachment 3642845

I could be wrong, but I dont think those red T's are supposed to interlock. The blade connector sticks out well beyond that and would fit the other side no problem.

 

[bloc]

The notched corners of the plastic connectors give it away, they are not fitting together with the tab in the right spot. Plus the terminals are offset in a way that supports this theory. That top tab is in the wrong spot for this application. I maintain that it wouldn’t make a meaningful difference if the rest of the harness is set up intelligently.

 

[Boston Mangler]

I maintain that it wouldn’t make a meaningful difference if the rest of the harness is set up intelligently.

This!

 

[OregonLC]

FWIW, I used the SPOD to control an ARB Twin in the Ram. The SPOD just sends low current to the ARB relays when then power the the compressor, too much current to manage through the SPOD. It's an easy thing to wire that way...

 

[SwitchPros]

I am trying to install a Switch-Pros 9100 but am running into a problem connecting it to my ARB twin compressor. The ARB plug is on the left and the Switch-Pro harness connector in on the right in the image below. As can be seen, the two will not mate: the ARB contacts are higher than are the Switch-Pros'. I can mate them if I turn one connector upside down, which then has the harness wires going to the wrong ARB contacts and connectors cannot lock together. The Switch-Pros' representative has said that they have not encountered this problem previously. I find it hard to believe since my compressor is only three years old.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? If you have an ARB twin compressor, please take and post a photo of its connector. I am curious if I'm an outlier, or if other ARB compressors have the same connector as do mine.
View attachment 3639818

It looks like when you pinned the ARB side of the harness that comes unpinned you pinned it incorrectly. We found an install guide someone else created where they mention that you have to clip the ARB wires in yourself and the orientation they should be. The link is below for your reference.

ARB INSTALL GUIDE