The Waytek Blog

We recently discussed how cable ties can help you keep your automotive wiring organized by bundling wire or cabling together. Now let’s take it one step further and examine the use of clamps to keep wiring fastened down and secured, preventing movement, wear and damage.

If you’ve tried purchasing a new vehicle recently, you may have had to wait to get the one you wanted. Pandemic and supply chain factors have continued to put a strain on availability.

Organizations that use multiple vehicles are also feeling the strain. Some Waytek customers who manage fleets of police and emergency vehicles reported being able to receive less than half of the new vehicles they wanted this year, and even fewer in 2021.

Lack of new vehicles means increased usage and wear on the vehicles that remain in your fleet, and increased risk of down time for repairs. Now more than ever, it’s important to be aware of the common points of failure in vehicle electrical systems and to make sure you have the parts on hand to address them.

Ignition-protected electrical components have become a standard requirement in marine applications. Ignition protection is also becoming important in other applications, especially those in which electrical components are used in enclosed or high-temperature environments.

Police vehicles continue to evolve, utilizing a growing array of electrical equipment ranging from sirens, flashers, and spotlights to radio systems, computers, safety locking mechanisms, and more.

Police cars require more auxiliary electrical power, circuitry and wiring than typical passenger vehicles. To support the demand, police vehicles come with powerful alternators (delivering 225 amps or more) and heavy-duty auxiliary batteries.

Pull-behind trailers come in a variety of sizes, weight classes and features. Whether you’re using a lightweight trailer to haul a few personal items, or pulling a livestock trailer, a boat trailer, or camper, it’s important that the trailer has been wired correctly.

Some DC electromechanical switches are hard to come by in today’s environment of materials  shortages and shipping constraints. In contrast, solid-state switches and contactors can be easier to source and offer many advantages over traditional switches—often at the same price point.

The use of cable ties is common in automotive electrical applications for bundling and securing wiring, cable, wire harness conductors, hoses, and more. Cable ties go by many different names including zip ties, nylon ties, and cable wraps, but they all refer to the same thing: fasteners that bundle wires and cables together to help keep them organized and protected from damage.

As commercial vehicles evolve, so does the need for increased protection of their electrical systems.

Modern vehicles have more auxiliary units drawing battery power than ever before. In the past, when vehicles were powered off, so were all electrical loads. Now, many of today’s commercial trucks require electricity full time.

Battery management is critical because increased loads, when not managed properly, can draw down batteries, leading to stalls and breakdowns.

When selecting circuit protection devices for trucks, off-road equipment and other mobile equipment, it’s important to have a complete understanding of the system to be protected. Don’t rush or minimize the process when planning your circuit protection.

Choosing the right electrical connector for your application is important for the design of your vehicle or mobile equipment. The appropriate wire connectors can provide a reliable means to modularize, reduce space usage, or improve manufacturability and field maintenance. In this article we’ll cover key criteria to consider when selecting electrical interconnect components.