December 2009 Randys Electrical Corner - Jp Magazine

We all need connections. I connected with a girl in high school once and it was great. She'd let me copy homework off of her, she would get her mom to buy clothes for me and dress me up, and she'd cook for me, too. Even though we had a real connection, it ended too early. I used to have the same problems with Kenny's Le Car. It turns out the French aren't that good at wiring.

jeep Wire Connectors randy Photo 26550205

With your Jeeps, you guys have it even worse. Jeep wasn't known for its great electronics, and most of us don't help things either. I learned a long time ago from helping Earl that you should do things right the first time, and connections are one thing you don't want to screw up.

I don't get why so many people use speaker connectors for almost everything in the Jeep. Spade and bullet connectors just weren't meant for important things and definitely weren't meant for the muck and dust you guys put your Jeeps through.

jeep Wire Connectors connectors Photo 26550208 This connector is from weatherpack.com and it is a Metri-Pack connector. Metri-Packs are a little more complicated and can be more expensive than weatherpack connectors, but this 480-series connector is good for up to 42 amps, which means it works great for electric fans. No more resistance going up as the connector gets dirty, these are just as dust and water resistant as the weatherpacks are. There can be a minimum order, but a simple Internet search can turn up other places to get these.

Well, I've found a couple of better ways to make your connections. Don't be like my high school sweetheart, make connections that will last.

PhotosView Slideshow I found Weather Pack connectors in my brother's El Camino a long time ago, but it wasn't until recently that it became easy to get these waterproof and dustproof connectors. This starter pack from Summit Racing (PN SUM-900403) is under $50 and has enough connectors to get you well on your way to fixing all of the problems in your system now with some left over for the future, too. These connectors are good for circuits fused with 20-amp or less fuses.
These spade connectors are available everywhere, so many of us use them. But really, the only thing they are good for is stereo stuff (like speakers) that require these connections. And even then, if your Jeep sees a lot of dust, mud, or water, soldering the wire to the speaker terminal and then using a weatherpack connector would be the better way to go. Do yourself a favor and try to avoid using these on anything the Jeep needs to run.
There is a special weatherpack or Metri-Pack crimping which is also available and is helpful if you are doing a complete vehicle. But for one at a time, like I do, I don't miss the tool at all. I use a pair of needle nose pliers to crimp down the insulation, then crimp down the bare wire, and then I solder the bare wire to the terminal for a bond that will never come loose. Don't forget to put the seal on the wire first!