The Waytek Blog

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.

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.

Running a fleet isn't cheap. When asked to list some of the top costs, many people would likely name fuel, oil, or tires. However one major cost that some do not even consider is fleet downtime. With the high cost of purchasing and maintaining fleet vehicles, every hour or day they are out of commission equals profits lost. In a 2015 survey conducted by Decisiv, a fleet management software company, fleets reported that downtime cost them an average of $448 to $760 a day, per vehicle.

Electrical system problems is a common cause of downtime and service calls for fleet vehicles, with blown fuses being one of the most common types. Modern applications require more power than ever before, which can overload circuits. 

As technology advances, the demand for high amperage circuit protection only increases. To support these applications, we're proud to announce we now carry the Series 17 Thermal Circuit Breakers by Mechanical Products (MP) in high amp options of up to 300A.

Ever since Waytek added the newest Forward & Reverse Relay Module from Cole Hersee by Littelfuse, we've noticed strong interest from many customers, along with many questions and comments about this new generation of relay modules. Below, we have outlined the features and benefits to help you better understand this new product class.

It's 2016, and people rely on more personal electronic devices than ever before.

Oh, you wanted me to tell you something you didn't know? Sure thing - I'm happy to report that Waytek has added some of the newest and hottest USB charging components on the market and has seen unprecedented sales in this category.

But what's driving this boom? How are these new generation of chargers different? Let's discuss...

The benefits of electronic controls align closely with the preferences of operators and fleet managers, as well as the OEMs and system integrators who design and build small and large vehicles. Consequently, electronic controls are increasingly used across a range of on- and off-highway vehicle applications, especially where uptime is key.

Welding cable was originally designed and intended for connecting welding equipment and grounds. It is a high voltage cable built for flexibility so the welder doesn't have to drag a heavy, stiff cable while working. The transportation, vehicle and heavy equipment industries have recognized the benefits of welding cable's high flexibility, high voltage, and high heat capabilities and are using it as an alternative to battery cable.

Adding and replacing aftermarket electrical devices and electronics can be time consuming and messy. Tangled wires, confusion of which wire connects to which device, blown fuses, Installing relays to power higher amperage applications, and the list goes on…

The automotive, truck and heavy equipment industries are all addressing the problem of fuel consumption and environmental emissions. Reducing the weight of vehicles, trucks and equipment is one of the primary means by which fuel consumption is lowered. Even modest vehicle weight reduction has a significant impact on emissions reduction. Reducing the weight of a vehicle by a mere 110lbs increases fuel economy by up to 2%.

When you think of the manufacturing process in trucks, trailers, buses and other specialty vehicles, does tape come to mind as the primary method for bonding metals, glass and plastics? Most think of screws, rivets, welding and other mechanical fasteners. 3M has taken an innovative approach to enhancing specialty vehicle design with Very High Bonding VHB tape. It's hard to believe, but 3M has created a way for tape to replace mechanical fasteners.