More then 1 ground...

[G Speed]

Installing projectors/hids on my car + in my fogs...

Let's just say I have 4 wires going to the battery (+) and 4 wires going to ground locations (-)

Can I splice those 4 ground wires, and put them all into 1 spade or ring terminal?

Can I do the same with the (+)?

 

[larry_g]

Sure you can but there are better solutions. Get a terminal block to do your make up and you will probably have better luck.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[nehog]

One wire per terminal. That's the rule. You can use one stud for the four terminals however. And don't use those silly blue three way splices either--they are worthless for automotive work, you should try to solder any splices (and terminals) unless you have a professional grade terminal crimping tool.

 

[jhelrey]

DO NOT SOLDER!

There is a reason why there isn't a single soldered connection from factory!

Don't they just take power from the headlight plug?

 

[G Speed]

DO NOT SOLDER!

There is a reason why there isn't a single soldered connection from factory!

Don't they just take power from the headlight plug?

yes.. I could do it that way... headlight plug to ballast to light...

but I wanted to do it the proper way, and use relays...

 

[kbs2244]

Find the local West Marine store.
The boating guys do this kind of thing all the time.
They can make up the harness for you.

 

[nehog]

Soldering is OK. The reasons why solder is not used are that it costs too much to make up the terminals on the harness from the factory, and as well they have the right crimpers to do the job right. Most home shop users try to crimp terminals with those cheesy stamped metal crimpers you get at Sears or the local hardware store. Sure, you can avoid soldering if you have the right crimpers--but not many of us have the $75 to $300 for a proper crimping tool. (I do, but I do a lot of electrical work so they've paid for themselves.)

The old wife's tale about soldering causes wires to break at the terminal are not true, what causes them to break is poor installation practices, usually failure to properly secure the wire within an inch or two of the terminal to something secure, or properly bundling the wires. Instead they are left floating for 10 to 12 inches, vibrating and flapping around in the breeze until they break.

 

[nate379]

Rule of what? I better go turn myself in cause I have done just that many many many times over the years. Have yet to have a problem doing so. Hell it's done from the factory, do we need to lock them up too?

One wire per terminal. That's the rule. You can use one stud for the four terminals however. And don't use those silly blue three way splices either--they are worthless for automotive work, you should try to solder any splices (and terminals) unless you have a professional grade terminal crimping tool.

OP, sure you can run all the terminals into one connector. Just use the next size up connector if need be to fit all the wires.

I use the crimp deals with no insulation and they a good shrink wrap, teh kind that has glue in it.

 

[Mattlt]

Not to hijack the thread, but someone mentioned terminal blocks. Is there a terminal block that allows you to connect multiple wires under multiple screws to be combined into one screw on the other side of the terminal block? So you'd have one screw used on one side of the strip and one-to-many screws used on the other side of the strip. Similar to an antenna splitter, only this would be more like a combiner.

All the terminal strips I've ever seen are one screw on one side to one screw on the other. Seems like it would be a good idea to have a one-to-many arrangement.

Maybe I just gave away a million $$$ idea?

 

[G Speed]

OP, sure you can run all the terminals into one connector. Just use the next size up connector if need be to fit all the wires.

.... you would think that lol... I wanted to hook it up directly to my battery post.. so I picked up 10-12 gauge ring terminals.. only ones that was wide enough to drop onto the post..

when I went to hook it up.. turns out 2 of the wires were 16 and the other was 18...

even after putting them together I had to fold the wires over.. then use a lot of force with the pliers... at least it's not going anywhere!

everything works great..except for 1 ballast

thanks for the info!

 

[Chris_R/T]

All the terminal strips I've ever seen are one screw on one side to one screw on the other. Seems like it would be a good idea to have a one-to-many arrangement.

Maybe I just gave away a million $$$ idea?

I have one in my truck for added accessories and such, dunno who makes it though I can get a pic.

 

[Mattlt]

I have one in my truck for added accessories and such, dunno who makes it though I can get a pic.

Any idea who makes them? Or what they're called? I've never actually seen one.

Thanks for the response.