The Waytek Blog

Automotive wiring has a tough job to do. It must operate in adverse conditions such as extreme heat  and cold, vibration, moisture, and chemicals. Chemical corrosion has increased over the years due to the use of magnesium chloride and calcium chloride as anti-icing agents instead of salt. Taken together, all these factors can cause connectors to corrode and wires to pull out, resulting in equipment downtime and repair costs.

Here are few tips to extend the life of your automotive wires and connections and keep them functioning in top form.

The IP Code, IEC standard 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Marking, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion, dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures.

Using heat shrink materials is an excellent way to protect crucial electrical connections and keep wire connections secure. However, some confusion lingers over heat shrink materials and how they are best used. Here's what you need to know.

CAN, which stands for Controller Area Network, has been in use for more than 30 years and is increasingly found in passenger vehicles, class 7 and 8 trucks, construction equipment, and off-highway vehicles. Even so, the technology may still be unfamiliar to many automotive upfitters and installers.

Few things beat the satisfaction of stepping back to admire a job well done, especially when it comes to pristine electrical work. While manufacturers continue to advance the features of electrical tape, the wrapping techniques used by OEMs and upfitters to create safe and error-free wire harnesses have stood the test of time.

Here are two fundamental techniques for wrapping PVC electrical tape that you must absolutely master for secure, long-lasting adhesion.

There are many types of low-voltage automotive wire, but the two most common are GPT wire and cross-link polyethylene wire. The key differences between them lie primarily in the properties of their insulating jackets. Here’s an overview.

When it comes to lighting patterns for vehicle work lights, some work vehicle customers are unsure whether spotlights or floodlights will best suit their operators' needs. Other questions may arise around the choice between LED or halogen lighting, and the different units of measurement when it comes to brightness. It’s important for upfitters to understand the differences between spotlights and floodlights and the best applications for each.

Deutsch connectors are in high demand and can be difficult to source due to extended manufacturer  lead times. Widely in use in trucks, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, and many types of mobile equipment, Deutsch connectors have become integral to many production lines.

Proper crimping is essential for reliable terminations, and getting the right crimp requires the right tool. While this may sound simple enough, there several important things to keep in mind when selecting from the myriad of crimping tools on the market.