3rd wire add to cut the original or not

[tearapin]

I have a Suzuki King Quad 750 in the garage. A notorious problem on it is the rectifier ground. Some genius figured out that if you splice into the 4 wire rectifier harness ground wire and run it to the frame it makes the charging system work as it should. At minimum better. More juice going to the battery for charging.

So, this is not a King Quad question but more of a fundamental question in terms of electrical. I know there are a lot of gurus here so....

Method one would be to strip insulation from the middle of the original wire. The wrap a wire around the bare spot and solder it. Finish with some sort of tape wrap.

Method two would be cut the wire, slide some shrink tube on and solder the three together. Then shrink the tube.

The questions comes from many posts on this mod. Almost all say, "Do not cut the wire!" So basically opting for method one as the only method.

I feel method 2 with the shrink tube would be more secure in terms of water resistance. I do not like Scotch locks.

So why the "Do not cut the wire advice"? Any ideas here?

TPin

 

[TractorJeff]

I'd cut the wire if it was mine.

 

[laser3kw]

I'd cut the wire if it was mine.

without a picture of the harness and possibly the schematic to sway me otherwise, I also would cut and solder / heat shrink.

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't see any reason for not cutting the wire. I would disconnect the battery too

 

[Lassen Forge]

Supposedly a in-line joint is stronger than toing a cut and 3 way, but I've done both and had no problems, as long as (a) you make a solid MECHANICAL joint, and (b) you do a good, ho-soldered joint.

People think doing the 3 way is weaker, and if your mechanical joint is bad, then sure, it's weaker... If you're competent, you'll be fine. The main thing is to get a better GROUND connection, as the single ground supplied by Suzuki is pretty iffy.

 

[theoldwizard1]

This is how I do it

• Cut the wire
• Take a short piece of the new wire (blue), bared, twist with one side of the old wire, (red) bared, and crimp an inline splice, one size larger, on it

View media item 34812
• Cut off the sort piece of the new wire (blue) at the splice
• Take the new wire (blue), bared, twist it with the other end of the old wire (red), bared and crimp to the open end on the inline splice. Don't forget to install the dual wall heat shrink before crimping

View media item 34813
• Completed

View media item 34814

 

[tearapin]

It is a connector much like this where the wire would be added to at the point where the wire goes into the connector.

 

[HenryAZ]

This is how I do it

You can get uninsulated **** connectors with two different sized ends, for joining different gauge wires, or for doing as in your example. I have some that are marked yellow (12-10) on one end and blue (16-14) on the other. Del City or Waytek.

 

[MikeF2316]

What is wrong with just running an additional wire from the ground point of the rectifier wire to the frame? Or is the problem the rectifier wire itself, not the grounding point?

I believe in modifying original wiring as little as possible, so I wouldn't cut the wire.

 

[tearapin]

I am wondering if the original wire length may be the concern. As there is little slack the plastic connector may not reach the rectifier if the wire is cut and the third wire is added. Now if I could only find that exact connector. I would redo the whole thing the right way.

 

[tearapin]

You can get uninsulated **** connectors with two different sized ends, for joining different gauge wires, or for doing as in your example. I have some that are marked yellow (12-10) on one end and blue (16-14) on the other. Del City or Waytek.

That is an excellent idea there. Thank you for the post I had no idea that step down connectors existed.

 

[theoldwizard1]

You can get uninsulated **** connectors with two different sized ends, for joining different gauge wires, or for doing as in your example.

You learn something new every day !



Also available with insulation, including heat shrink insulation.

 

[tearapin]

You learn something new every day !



Also available with insulation, including heat shrink insulation.

Yes I did see those. $7 for one adapter shipped. No one here locally has the ones with different size ends.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yet another way to do it using a "parallel crimp". The example below is a "1 to 3". I think I need to buy some of this style crimps.

 

[tearapin]

Yet another way to do it using a "parallel crimp". The example below is a "1 to 3". I think I need to buy some of this style crimps.

You have a link to these crimp connectors?