Need the experts' advice/secret tips on protecting wires

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Hey everyone,

Newbie here. Need some expert advice:

Just installed an ARB front bumper and wired up fog lights, blinkers, side marker lights, more fog lights.

I ran it through a car wash and some of the wires got blown loose and were all soaked under the bumper.

What are everyone's tips and suggestions to cover and protect the wires under the ARB bumper that are for the most part, exposed.

Thanks for the tips.
 
Split loom and zip-ties in conjunction with liquid tape.
 
liquid tape sounds good. the looms and zip ties i've done. thanks for that piece.
 
I'm always extra cautious about wiring exposed to the elements. I usually use white lithium grease on the actual connections (spade connectors usually), seal with waterproof tape, and finished off with heat shrink tubing over top. A little overboard maybe but the stuff I've wired up has never crapped out. With all the mag chloride they use on the roads around here in the winter I like my stuff nice and sealed up. It's a PITA to get to if you ever need to remove something...but I feel thats a small price to pay for the longevity of the wiring/equipment.

ETA: And yes, wire loom is great to prevent the wires from chafing and to keep most of the elements off of them.
 
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My .02 worth:

Its probably a good idea to use dielectric grease formulated for electrical applications like this. The plain lithium grease may be ok, but it is not guaranteed to be dielectric, and also may cause chemical interaction with plastics/etc in the connector, electrical tape, and heat shrink tubing that might degrade them over time. Also, some greases separate over time, could leak out and leave residue that fails to fully protect.

The other thing about weather-exposed lead/terminals: If you wrap or heat-shrink the wiring at the connector terminals, definitely use copious dielectric grease to protect the terminals and seal the connector terminal pass-thru's because chances are pretty good that moisture may collect inside the wrap/tubing and cause problems at bare terminals/interconnects.

I haven't tried all the various types of electrical tape out there, but have seen many applications that deteriorate over time, especially in the harsh automotive environment. I wouldn't count on electrical tape to stay in place by itself long-term, and definitely wouldn't count on it to seal against moisture.

Best design for weather-tightness & mechanical robustness is completely sealed with (overmold + strain relief) at the connector (correctly designed/manufactured), this will prevent moisture ingress and also mechanical wire/termination/interconnect failure at the connector due to vibration etc. (The homemade equivalents using e.g. grease, tape, HS tubing etc. are prone to both problems if not done just right...)
 
Almost 4 years of Colorado winters on the Yukon I just sold, and all of the exterior aux lighting I installed was still going strong. I will agree that dielectric grease is the better option...but the white stuff was all I had on-hand at the time and I didn't feel like going to the hardware store just to grab a tub of grease.

Everyone has a different way of doing it. My way worked for me. YMMV. :cheers:
 
I make connections.....then use the self fuzing tape (not electrical) that bonds to itself and is heat proof. Then I coat the whole area with liquid tap good. Then cover with split loom and hold in place with zip ties.

So far so good.
 
I make connections.....then use the self fuzing tape (not electrical) that bonds to itself and is heat proof. Then I coat the whole area with liquid tap good. Then cover with split loom and hold in place with zip ties.

So far so good.

What kind of self-fusing tape do you use?
 
It is silicone tape with no glue...adheres to itself..is heat resistant, flame retardent, and works under pressure, wet, oily, etc. Used a roll to help seal off a leaking pressurized power steering hose on a FJ62 at Uwharrie in December. Then we put a hose clamp directly over the tape where hole was originally for structural strength and it held to get him off mountain and to parts store an hour away. Knocked the leak from a heavy spray at pressure to barely a drip even under load. Great stuff...

I get it from Hardware Store or Harbor Freight...but here is some online

self fusing tape - Google Search



some places it is also called RESCUE TAPE...we used it in military to cover wires that would get submerged or be exposed to harsh conditions. There may be differences in quality but most is rated to 500*F and like 700psi...
 
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