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.
Topics: New Products, Resources & Tools, Battery Management, Switches
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.
Topics: How To, Resources & Tools, Circuit Protection, Buying Guides
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.
Topics: How To, Resources & Tools, Basics, Terminals & Connectors
Unless you've been repairing or wiring 12-volt equipment for a long time, the world of automotive wiring can be daunting. You’ll need to understand some jargon and technical terms to get started. To ensure you're getting the right wire for the job, here's an essential overview of what you need to know.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Buying Guides, Basics, Vehicles, Wire & Cable
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.
Topics: Industry Updates, Resources & Tools, Regulatory, IP, Ratings & Standards
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.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Basics, Wire & Cable, Heat Shrink
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.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Lighting
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.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Crimping, Wire & Cable
When it comes to battery management, battery isolators and automatic charging relays (also called ACRs or voltage sensitive relays) are both used to safeguard reserve battery power to prevent breakdowns and protect other vital vehicle or boat functions.
So, how are these two components different? Is one better than the other? When should you choose one over the other? Here are some things to keep in mind.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Buying Guides, Battery Management, Battery Isolators, ACRs
Splice connectors—also commonly known as butt connectors, butt splices, or crimp connectors—have been in use for decades and remain an important component in 12-volt electrical systems. Here are some basics to help you select and use them.
Topics: Resources & Tools, Basics, Terminals & Connectors
Social Media
