Loose wire connection

[turbopilot51]

Today while removing my batteries from our Alpine, one of the wire connections came apart. This wire lug was on the negative post to the metal ground on the rig. Obviously the person who crimped the wire lug did a lousy job. I will now go through all my battery connections and recrimp all the wire lugs. This could have caused serious problems later. Check you battery wire connections.

[JRTJH]

I also found some that were not crimped well. I soldered mine, figured it was a bit more reliable than recrimping. Your advice to check not only the connections but the connectors is a good one, thanks for bringing it up.

[Ron]

Thanks Turbopilot, I looked at all of our connections when we purchased it, and yes they do a lousy job for sure. Soldering them is a good idea that will solve any future problems for sure..........

[turbopilot51]

Originally Posted by Ron

Thanks Turbopilot, I looked at all of our connections when we purchased it, and yes they do a lousy job for sure. Soldering them is a good idea that will solve any future problems for sure..........

I bought new crimp lugs for the #8 & #6 wire. Being an Electrician for thirty plus years I prefer crimping rather than soldering. I borrowed a crimping tool from work and will do the job that should have been done the first time.

[SteveC7010]

Having worked in the two way radio world for part of my career, I can tell you that the best way to do these connectors is to crimp and then solder. That way you start with a good physical connection and then improve it with an even better electrical connection which, if properly done, won't degrade due to vibration or corrosion.

I always use heat shrink tubing over the finished joint plus dielectric grease on the faces of the lug where it contacts the other side of the connection.

Don't forget to use electrical grade solder, not plumbing solder. I use a 100 watt iron and make sure the solder flows throughout the the crimp and a teeny bit up into the wire. Torches really don't work here except for really big stuff like 00 wire.

[jsmith948]

Good info Like anything done in assembly line fashion, the electrical systems of these RVs are prone to poor workmanship. When I was doing a mod to be able to watch T.V. while boondocking, I found many of the neutral buss screws weren't tight. Probably had some guy with small wrists (easier to get to the back of the panel) working the line the day our 5er was built. Have since gone through the entire RV and tightened, tightened, tightened!

[turbopilot51]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Good info Like anything done in assembly line fashion, the electrical systems of these RVs are prone to poor workmanship. When I was doing a mod to be able to watch T.V. while boondocking, I found many of the neutral buss screws weren't tight. Probably had some guy with small wrists (easier to get to the back of the panel) working the line the day our 5er was built. Have since gone through the entire RV and tightened, tightened, tightened!

Loose connections are a major cause for electrical problems. I plan on spending a day going through all the wiring connections i can access. Better safe than sorry for sure.

[Bob Landry]

Originally Posted by turbopilot51

I bought new crimp lugs for the #8 & #6 wire. Being an Electrician for thirty plus years I prefer crimping rather than soldering. I borrowed a crimping tool from work and will do the job that should have been done the first time.

I agree. I do marine electrical work and I crimp all of my battery cable lugs and connectors. Soldering makes a good electrical connection, but provides very little mechanical strength. A properly crimped connection on clean wire followed with heat shrink will never fail. I have never seen an OEM boat builder use solder connections, it just isn't needed.

Don't depend on the squeeze type crimpers from Home depot for large lugs. Use the proper tool, even if you have to rent one for half a day. Mine are made by Ancor and look like large bolt cutters and will crimp the largest battery lugs out there