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Avoid a Fire - Wire your Car Safely

Monday, February 4th, 2008 – running time 17:51
Whether it's the PC in our Wireless Access Truck, a massive 1000W amplifier or an extra power plug for a cell phone, the same rules apply... ignore 'em, and you could turn your car into a fire hazard... or just blow out its electrical system.

It's been raining sideways for the better part of a week here in San Francisco, and none of us own a garage, so progress on the Wireless Access Truck is moving a bit slower than we'd like.

But we've had lots of time to think about wiring up that puppy, and Patrick is looking to correct a laundry list of wiring issues for the accessories in his vehicle.

He's especially inspired by NASA's collection of Workmanship Standards, which includes the most excellent NASA WORKMANSHIP STANDARDS PICTORIAL REFERENCE, where you can see how rocket scientists properly crimp a terminal, and a whole lot more... a great reference!

Safely wiring your vehicle (especially if you have, say, 400W worth of lights or a massive 500W amplifier) is about choosing a heavy enough gauge, or size, of wire, and figuring out how far it has to travel from your battery.

The longer the distance, the lower the gauge wire you need for a given load... with wire gauges, the smaller then number the amperage it can carry.

To figure out the appropriate gauge wire, you'll use a gauge/distance table of some sort... we've used The12volt.com's chart, Recommended Power and Ground Cable Sizes along with RBE Electronics WIRE GAUGE SELECTION TABLE and PowerStream's Wire Gauge and Current Limits.

They all offer the same basic idea: chart the electrical load in Amps or Watts, go to the column for the distance, and you'll get a recommended gauge wire for the run. (We tend to go a size up 'cause we're paranoid, and, hey, you never know when you might want to add another gadget.)

Your car should be running a 12V system... to figure out that Amperage load from a device that lists its power consumption in Watts, divide the number of Watts by 12V. (For more on this, check out Episode 18: Obey The Laws (Of Power)

Patrick got all that burly wiring hardware from VTE... not just because he's looking to deal with 40A worth of lighting on the front of his truck, along with almost 80A worth of amplifiers... but because the prices are super cheap compared to the usual bling bling car audio stuff. The ANL Fuse Block was definitely a bit bigger than he expected, but the price was super cheap for an

For your basic 2-30A connection, regular old Auto/Blade Fuse Holders or Inline Fuse Holders from Radio Shack or your local auto parts store are more than enough.

Just don't skip putting a fuse in there!

Highlights
United States ( 2:32, 2:32 ) Blu-ray ( 7:35, 7:35 ) Valentine day ( 14:30, 14:30 ) crimping ( 7:46, 10:38, 13:01, 7:46, 10:38, 13:01 ) United States ( 2:32, 2:32 ) Blu-ray ( 7:35, 7:35 ) Valentine day ( 14:30, 14:30 ) crimping ( 7:46, 10:38, 13:01, 7:46, 10:38, 13:01 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" A better normal in the system David Randolph often assignments -- actually is probably crawling home after over exposure repeating sex. Over in the studio. And you can't see them but it's been raining where the middle of the Wi-Fi truck built in between the rain storms will want to talk -- little bit about powering up things inside your vehicle doesn't matter yet thousand -- for amplifier. We're fifteen watts for something like this to -- a few more power adapters inside their you know for the cell phone and everything else. There are some things you need to pay attention to you won the map temperature falling to the distant tripling over in three to gauge what are you need to talk about. How to wire vehicle for power safely in the -- system. For that want to thank our sponsors virgin America go to any dot com and Netflix. All right we introduced the wireless access trucks -- we talked about a bunch is power -- a running joke been made throughout the entire interaction of the wireless access truck was not burning your vehicle to the ground. Car truck scooter and motorcycle -- great doesn't matter if you don't wire properly run the risk of doing something very sad. Which is putting too much power through two small wire to lighting gauge of wire created a whole bunch of heat Nolte the insulation off of that pretty short circuit and or burn yourself against -- are created sparks or basically turning it bright orange in having these things happen. You care about this why because you don't want to bring your vehicle. Let's talk about distance first we're talking about is the distance. Probably from your battery. To whatever you're trying to power. Now it may be from your battery through distribution block which if you're completely out of control and insane looks like something like this. Or probably more likely something fancier one of the car stereo companies couple pictures those -- here's one jail audio this one's from stinger. Interesting idea here though is that you wanted you safe distances and amp -- Richard -- so. If we're doing a single line that you want to run let's say some lighter sockets from your vehicle but -- doctor going to the."

" Dashboard sort of measure from the battery of the vehicle all the way around and to the end engine compartment. Down to some place a hole in your firewall that's the sheet of -- between your -- the engine to going to pass back up through the firewall. Up underneath the dashboard and over to where you're gonna be -- your lighter sockets. Great once you've mentioned that have a physical distance general here in the United States measured in feet. We're gonna take -- and the amount of hamper its that -- going to be running through these maximum which shouldn't be any more than fifteen hands -- that's the nice product tells you not all more than fifty -- Spirit. Amber to convert that into the correct wire teaching -- Which are looking up -- the screen right now is it delegate selection table or wire -- cable -- distance table that really matter what it's called what matters is the numbers that -- look -- here. Now this woman looking -- from -- company called RB electronics they give you something really interesting to six volt and twelve volts. We're gonna be concerned the mobile column and we're gonna roll them that column and we get to fifteen amp which is the theoretical maximum -- little circuit. The look -- in the right you'll see the actual distances were looking at three 80 B let's go over fifteen. -- overkill so we're getting into you attended go to next -- up fourteen gauge should be more than enough to carry fifteen camps over fifteen feet. I'm gonna basically round that down the next larger cage and go for twelve gauge wire for this connection."

" Digital negative impact on line. He would go to any dotcom dotcom answers close 199 plus we'll class hosting fast and -- website builders and much more plus enter the code -- one that fits -- As they -- an additional ten dollars off any order forty dollars or more. All right outside is spent a little quality time on Google on the Internet and look for wired its election table or something like this it's up on the twelve volt dot com some incredible resource. Which he recommended cable size by power distance now when you're looking at right here they actually measure total -- power and why it's great if you're doing something like that little. You know. Jim -- you picked up at the local truck stop working doing media but we all those things -- power amplifier for car stereo. Sort of like this a Margate selection table may be a little easier to working in terms of hands sort of for a twelve volt circuit cameras like -- fifteen hands if we look to the right we'll actually see the wire gauge."

" Recommended for particular length in feet. Ten feet. Probably not enough for applications could have fifteen feet which recommends a fourteen gauge wire. I'm in the habit of actually going to -- smaller by canceling it why because and paranoid and like the extra overheads -- twelve gauge wire for this application. Let's talk -- second about actually fear out there as it wants and space -- related equation we're gonna keep into the whole concept we covered in the previous episode the system in the lower third you can look at right now -- which have so the you know to. Who we are concerned about mistakenly. Constantly happier twelve volt and looking at the want to have a divisive him giving him out of pampered Ross. When they want to look at when you're looking at something you're installing and vehicle as it may have sort of a average and average rate peaking at bridge or effort to stand behind any -- average if they give you eight. Why -- your vehicle in terms of the high end of the scale you want overhead you want more wire you want -- property want to -- cage and walked into the fine points engage in just a second. But if you're trying to figure out how many answers -- Take a look at the basic formula right. Watts divided by -- we know bolts floats through watts divided by -- equals the let's they're completely out of control and 1183001. Number on the back to your -- don't want to know why maybe you've got free microwave ovens. Going to take 3000 watts going to abide by twelve volts and we're gonna get a result of 250. Camps and that's gonna require it be good piece of wire. I gotta figure that out but don't back your distance engaged able. Let's talk about wire for a second."

" First of all after working in a vehicle using stranded wire what does that mean you're not using the big fix solid copper core why it is okay copper solid court's going to be bent -- gonna stay -- house or building -- machine that's great he says get to a vehicle it's bouncing up and -- moving around. It tends to move fatigue crack disintegrate this is fast or on the -- you stranded wire for vehicle. Glad we got that way. Second they need help what are we talking about for awhile the keys based company called brown and -- in the nineteenth century we have EWG or American wire system. Do things need to know about this one it's one of those English system -- makes absolutely no sense -- working with it and -- Increasing -- numbers -- decreasing large antlers which is similar to many other non strategic systems the finger a member of a core most important thing is that the smaller the number the bigger the wire the bigger the number the smaller the wire and this is important because smaller wires can safely carry less current. One thing to remember when you can of the really big gauge of wire 7. A lot of times and rotated his one slash zero for zero gauge wire to slash zero for. 2 gauge wire or zero zero gauge wires so if you think you're buying. Collection of four gates -- be careful -- force last zero gauge terminals. Guzzling to put these giant things which are pretty much designed to carry 3400 into electricity and not very good for much of anything else. What I want to respond to this week Netflix. It -- dvd or Blu-ray movies."

" Don't Netflix dot com and like try a free trial of Netflix dot com slash system. Right there's actually nothing wrong pulling a paradise and crimping on the wire and -- the wire inside there who maybe scrapings from the -- actually there is a lot wrong with this it works you can do that whole cool guy thing where you. -- bend it around the screwdriver. And then you sort of put that in there and you're gonna turn it so that the little -- is around the where the screw actually do is that they."

" Right you're gonna -- actually. To the trouble properly -- they learn how to properly terminate the end of your -- when Rita Walters they -- who injects -- take the time. Q and I'd like to think different in for -- Chrome whose father was an engineer work on F fourteens -- easy proper wire stripper. Why do we care about that because we don't actually want to damage the wires in here these are critical. Electricity is actually carry on the outside of the wire which is why when you're looking it multiple stranded wire. You'll find with things secure huge -- they can use a lot of smaller fire wires. Because they have basically its its gonna be less resistance less resistance is good thing with electricity almost always have to resist. So bring -- wire stripper and her talk about. Basically encrypting and soldering is nice but she never actually -- something where you -- it. That would be bad. And we wouldn't want to point between amazing resource on line we found recently NASA workmanship standards. NASA of course the national air and space administration they send rockets in the guy. They bring rockets back and they have what you might call a fairly high. Standard for the assembly of electrical devices and that codify the inspection standards for that chances are it's enough for NASA it's good enough for the family automobile -- public."

" Actors here the one here is it ring connector this is a connector that both designed to be held down by taking a screw. A air space connectors you'd remove provisional have to please remove the -- to remove it hearing connectors going to be more secure -- a bigger pain if you actually have to change the wires. -- You can kind of see and you're not be able to read it Gregory this on this what is designed to fit. 1012 gauge wire in this little blue and -- designed to fit ten to fourteen gauge wire you care about this because you basically want the right size terminal. Good over the wire using so if we are using something like. AT wire which is this wire over here. You really use any."

" Terminal which would look something like this. Basically want to wire. He needs to fit the terminal it this is a good thing. When deal with smaller gauge wire pretty missing anything around ten -- twelve teams up to 2030 days well I don't think I've ever worked for me smaller than twenty game. You can basically hit and the RadioShack or pretty much of -- thousand other places get a little kit. There's a whole bunch of electrical connectors in on the cheap and this great basically for working with a -- small wire. Something else you should look for is each wire strippers we -- these fancy ones thank you can earlier. And while we're at it we also want to crimping tool and these are available fairly cheap Klein tools make particularly good one for not much money can pick up -- on people almost anywhere. The reason we like these is because they give us tools specifically designed to crack down those connectors. The affidavit that NASA got we're talking about or tell -- few things they don't actually use previously connectors on they have some space form and there are some specs form generally they use clear shrink wrap -- for the terminal so they can expect to make sure it's been properly set up was properly set up mean. When a tiny space basically of copper. In between the insulation and the base of the metal connector. You want the copper wires just sticking through the front and the terminal which putting in there now we have a pretty good set of prepares break here. And you'll notice on the system on and in this on the jaws there what you probably can't read unless you have some pretty amazing eyes. Not insulated would be the spiky one insulated would be the not so spiky ones and basically open jaws wide. -- your finger tip in there and squeezed remember what it -- this down but we don't want to penetrate the installation. So and give it a little bit of an excessive squeeze. And okay we've got -- clamp down we've got some pretty did contact there."

" And this is not -- list. -- if you're sort of a belt and suspenders and -- kind of person. You're not gonna use the pre installation you shrink -- installation -- require installation on first. You're gonna crimped a connector and you can actually solder the wire down there and remember never solder the wire before you -- it. That's bad -- an actor can actually help can we tighter connection help keep the copper from running -- that you'd be. So that's good connection. This is he straight to being this is ridiculous he mystery to me it's designed to go over something like 8 cable it's connecting your battery your maybe your starter. This is -- heat -- You can use -- mastering this you can use heat off the soldering Aaron I've seen people use a blowtorch don't use these spent the point five bucks and heat gun. And basically hold the distance to watch the -- being shrink to those seem to be -- not shrinking dancing -- it's coming from -- because I've burned one too many presentation tables in conference rooms. Already here I'm not allowed to use hot -- going to need a very large crimping tool case in point I think we can almost unique key -- screen. With our little pair pliers here. But it's pushing it. Which are gonna start looking at his tax political hammer -- the low end which is basically looks like and all this little spike in it there's a little groove. And his picture when coming up on here basically put wiring connector there hammer that things are you can and basically plan everything out. Really really fancy. -- ActiveX and Braxton wire connectors and basically. There easy guy or on the public -- it appears that can be adjustable exchange will work with different size logs. And they do something really cool is they ratchet and you clamp down on them and basically the only neat it's small swing. And most importantly they know what build the device is properly correct. Definitely helps to have two people I'm not gonna try to clamp is on a piece alarm at least for your connector that's ridiculous. Actually he and I hadn't even remotely close enough. So in this case we're adjusting our jobs we're gonna clerk Hector in there and and mention to people being a lot easier for this you're gonna clamp it down. And that's gonna clamp around the -- C basically see this tiny -- of that aside there. My favorite part of this particular tool it was cheap but that it actually stamps in the mark on there. And aesthetically pleasing but I think it's an -- pretty well."

" thank -- virgin -- airlines were having -- spectacular. Ellison five days pre Valentine's day's -- being. It's and hours what are we talking about here. Bring in your loved one do you bring and you and your loved ones sending your -- moderate lover what ever makes you happy. We're talking about cheap prices prices so cheap deals sold amazingly tell me they can't even let me revealed that field team here going to happen and they -- an idiot that virgin America dot com. To find out that details mysterious. Acts. Here's favor. Hurry up go to that he it would be a virgin America dot com. -- heat because you don't want their help -- this episode the system and like it is that sabretech America's deals. And fabulous free now it's six. Somebody watching the show right now is twitching. Their hand is in the air their -- leaving the C. Because they are just fearful they -- global loading righteous indignation or down right anger we haven't mentioned what is probably the most important part. Of not lighting your vehicle on fire having AC power system which should be using. Fuses used everything fuses are cheap or easy to track down especially if you use them for some like a fifteen amp. And take the time -- the right views and there sure you can -- 35 can't use their bigger is better right. No you with the appropriate size fuse if you're running 15 -- for the wire but if you can't use and why some people more efforts and -- is gonna blow it -- wired systems and their components it's gonna protect you is a proper size use. Put it used in. You have to -- giant views like this six. We've covered a ton of stuff in this episode that he's giving him some of the finer points like you relates vigilantes who remotely control high amounts of current. Or zip ties which are my best friend and actually taxing things underneath the -- were routing wiring -- vehicle. And oh we mentioned the -- that's the steel in between the Energy Department in the passenger cabin got to pass wires through there high amounts of efforts to yourself favor -- of kind of bulkhead connector lower amounts of -- operate well basically pass through any all the available dammit steering -- popular just do me a favor. Make sure you put some kind of Gromit around the wiring inside of that holes with fuels and saw through there. We can talk about this a lot more but we want to summarize -- this episode or basic things one determine the power requirements of the item or items you're catching the battery. To do us a favor measure the distance between those items in the battery. Three take a look at those three into power -- cable chart that's gonna be the size of working age of wire you need and -- take your time to properly connect everything insulated. And use of use take your time do this right do it once I'm actually Norton. That's the thing. Solar system going to."

" But the fact that path that. Regardless -- very rigorous process."

" love -- drive mode makes it never comes fresh blood tests to check out."

" A better normal in the system David Randolph often assignments -- actually is probably crawling home after over exposure repeating sex. Over in the studio. And you can't see them but it's been raining where the middle of the Wi-Fi truck built in between the rain storms will want to talk -- little bit about powering up things inside your vehicle doesn't matter yet thousand -- for amplifier. We're fifteen watts for something like this to -- a few more power adapters inside their you know for the cell phone and everything else. There are some things you need to pay attention to you won the map temperature falling to the distant tripling over in three to gauge what are you need to talk about. How to wire vehicle for power safely in the -- system. For that want to thank our sponsors virgin America go to any dot com and Netflix. All right we introduced the wireless access trucks -- we talked about a bunch is power -- a running joke been made throughout the entire interaction of the wireless access truck was not burning your vehicle to the ground. Car truck scooter and motorcycle -- great doesn't matter if you don't wire properly run the risk of doing something very sad. Which is putting too much power through two small wire to lighting gauge of wire created a whole bunch of heat Nolte the insulation off of that pretty short circuit and or burn yourself against -- are created sparks or basically turning it bright orange in having these things happen. You care about this why because you don't want to bring your vehicle. Let's talk about distance first we're talking about is the distance. Probably from your battery. To whatever you're trying to power. Now it may be from your battery through distribution block which if you're completely out of control and insane looks like something like this. Or probably more likely something fancier one of the car stereo companies couple pictures those -- here's one jail audio this one's from stinger. Interesting idea here though is that you wanted you safe distances and amp -- Richard -- so. If we're doing a single line that you want to run let's say some lighter sockets from your vehicle but -- doctor going to the."

" Dashboard sort of measure from the battery of the vehicle all the way around and to the end engine compartment. Down to some place a hole in your firewall that's the sheet of -- between your -- the engine to going to pass back up through the firewall. Up underneath the dashboard and over to where you're gonna be -- your lighter sockets. Great once you've mentioned that have a physical distance general here in the United States measured in feet. We're gonna take -- and the amount of hamper its that -- going to be running through these maximum which shouldn't be any more than fifteen hands -- that's the nice product tells you not all more than fifty -- Spirit. Amber to convert that into the correct wire teaching -- Which are looking up -- the screen right now is it delegate selection table or wire -- cable -- distance table that really matter what it's called what matters is the numbers that -- look -- here. Now this woman looking -- from -- company called RB electronics they give you something really interesting to six volt and twelve volts. We're gonna be concerned the mobile column and we're gonna roll them that column and we get to fifteen amp which is the theoretical maximum -- little circuit. The look -- in the right you'll see the actual distances were looking at three 80 B let's go over fifteen. -- overkill so we're getting into you attended go to next -- up fourteen gauge should be more than enough to carry fifteen camps over fifteen feet. I'm gonna basically round that down the next larger cage and go for twelve gauge wire for this connection."

" Digital negative impact on line. He would go to any dotcom dotcom answers close 199 plus we'll class hosting fast and -- website builders and much more plus enter the code -- one that fits -- As they -- an additional ten dollars off any order forty dollars or more. All right outside is spent a little quality time on Google on the Internet and look for wired its election table or something like this it's up on the twelve volt dot com some incredible resource. Which he recommended cable size by power distance now when you're looking at right here they actually measure total -- power and why it's great if you're doing something like that little. You know. Jim -- you picked up at the local truck stop working doing media but we all those things -- power amplifier for car stereo. Sort of like this a Margate selection table may be a little easier to working in terms of hands sort of for a twelve volt circuit cameras like -- fifteen hands if we look to the right we'll actually see the wire gauge."

" Recommended for particular length in feet. Ten feet. Probably not enough for applications could have fifteen feet which recommends a fourteen gauge wire. I'm in the habit of actually going to -- smaller by canceling it why because and paranoid and like the extra overheads -- twelve gauge wire for this application. Let's talk -- second about actually fear out there as it wants and space -- related equation we're gonna keep into the whole concept we covered in the previous episode the system in the lower third you can look at right now -- which have so the you know to. Who we are concerned about mistakenly. Constantly happier twelve volt and looking at the want to have a divisive him giving him out of pampered Ross. When they want to look at when you're looking at something you're installing and vehicle as it may have sort of a average and average rate peaking at bridge or effort to stand behind any -- average if they give you eight. Why -- your vehicle in terms of the high end of the scale you want overhead you want more wire you want -- property want to -- cage and walked into the fine points engage in just a second. But if you're trying to figure out how many answers -- Take a look at the basic formula right. Watts divided by -- we know bolts floats through watts divided by -- equals the let's they're completely out of control and 1183001. Number on the back to your -- don't want to know why maybe you've got free microwave ovens. Going to take 3000 watts going to abide by twelve volts and we're gonna get a result of 250. Camps and that's gonna require it be good piece of wire. I gotta figure that out but don't back your distance engaged able. Let's talk about wire for a second."

" First of all after working in a vehicle using stranded wire what does that mean you're not using the big fix solid copper core why it is okay copper solid court's going to be bent -- gonna stay -- house or building -- machine that's great he says get to a vehicle it's bouncing up and -- moving around. It tends to move fatigue crack disintegrate this is fast or on the -- you stranded wire for vehicle. Glad we got that way. Second they need help what are we talking about for awhile the keys based company called brown and -- in the nineteenth century we have EWG or American wire system. Do things need to know about this one it's one of those English system -- makes absolutely no sense -- working with it and -- Increasing -- numbers -- decreasing large antlers which is similar to many other non strategic systems the finger a member of a core most important thing is that the smaller the number the bigger the wire the bigger the number the smaller the wire and this is important because smaller wires can safely carry less current. One thing to remember when you can of the really big gauge of wire 7. A lot of times and rotated his one slash zero for zero gauge wire to slash zero for. 2 gauge wire or zero zero gauge wires so if you think you're buying. Collection of four gates -- be careful -- force last zero gauge terminals. Guzzling to put these giant things which are pretty much designed to carry 3400 into electricity and not very good for much of anything else. What I want to respond to this week Netflix. It -- dvd or Blu-ray movies."

" Don't Netflix dot com and like try a free trial of Netflix dot com slash system. Right there's actually nothing wrong pulling a paradise and crimping on the wire and -- the wire inside there who maybe scrapings from the -- actually there is a lot wrong with this it works you can do that whole cool guy thing where you. -- bend it around the screwdriver. And then you sort of put that in there and you're gonna turn it so that the little -- is around the where the screw actually do is that they."

" Right you're gonna -- actually. To the trouble properly -- they learn how to properly terminate the end of your -- when Rita Walters they -- who injects -- take the time. Q and I'd like to think different in for -- Chrome whose father was an engineer work on F fourteens -- easy proper wire stripper. Why do we care about that because we don't actually want to damage the wires in here these are critical. Electricity is actually carry on the outside of the wire which is why when you're looking it multiple stranded wire. You'll find with things secure huge -- they can use a lot of smaller fire wires. Because they have basically its its gonna be less resistance less resistance is good thing with electricity almost always have to resist. So bring -- wire stripper and her talk about. Basically encrypting and soldering is nice but she never actually -- something where you -- it. That would be bad. And we wouldn't want to point between amazing resource on line we found recently NASA workmanship standards. NASA of course the national air and space administration they send rockets in the guy. They bring rockets back and they have what you might call a fairly high. Standard for the assembly of electrical devices and that codify the inspection standards for that chances are it's enough for NASA it's good enough for the family automobile -- public."

" Actors here the one here is it ring connector this is a connector that both designed to be held down by taking a screw. A air space connectors you'd remove provisional have to please remove the -- to remove it hearing connectors going to be more secure -- a bigger pain if you actually have to change the wires. -- You can kind of see and you're not be able to read it Gregory this on this what is designed to fit. 1012 gauge wire in this little blue and -- designed to fit ten to fourteen gauge wire you care about this because you basically want the right size terminal. Good over the wire using so if we are using something like. AT wire which is this wire over here. You really use any."

" Terminal which would look something like this. Basically want to wire. He needs to fit the terminal it this is a good thing. When deal with smaller gauge wire pretty missing anything around ten -- twelve teams up to 2030 days well I don't think I've ever worked for me smaller than twenty game. You can basically hit and the RadioShack or pretty much of -- thousand other places get a little kit. There's a whole bunch of electrical connectors in on the cheap and this great basically for working with a -- small wire. Something else you should look for is each wire strippers we -- these fancy ones thank you can earlier. And while we're at it we also want to crimping tool and these are available fairly cheap Klein tools make particularly good one for not much money can pick up -- on people almost anywhere. The reason we like these is because they give us tools specifically designed to crack down those connectors. The affidavit that NASA got we're talking about or tell -- few things they don't actually use previously connectors on they have some space form and there are some specs form generally they use clear shrink wrap -- for the terminal so they can expect to make sure it's been properly set up was properly set up mean. When a tiny space basically of copper. In between the insulation and the base of the metal connector. You want the copper wires just sticking through the front and the terminal which putting in there now we have a pretty good set of prepares break here. And you'll notice on the system on and in this on the jaws there what you probably can't read unless you have some pretty amazing eyes. Not insulated would be the spiky one insulated would be the not so spiky ones and basically open jaws wide. -- your finger tip in there and squeezed remember what it -- this down but we don't want to penetrate the installation. So and give it a little bit of an excessive squeeze. And okay we've got -- clamp down we've got some pretty did contact there."

" And this is not -- list. -- if you're sort of a belt and suspenders and -- kind of person. You're not gonna use the pre installation you shrink -- installation -- require installation on first. You're gonna crimped a connector and you can actually solder the wire down there and remember never solder the wire before you -- it. That's bad -- an actor can actually help can we tighter connection help keep the copper from running -- that you'd be. So that's good connection. This is he straight to being this is ridiculous he mystery to me it's designed to go over something like 8 cable it's connecting your battery your maybe your starter. This is -- heat -- You can use -- mastering this you can use heat off the soldering Aaron I've seen people use a blowtorch don't use these spent the point five bucks and heat gun. And basically hold the distance to watch the -- being shrink to those seem to be -- not shrinking dancing -- it's coming from -- because I've burned one too many presentation tables in conference rooms. Already here I'm not allowed to use hot -- going to need a very large crimping tool case in point I think we can almost unique key -- screen. With our little pair pliers here. But it's pushing it. Which are gonna start looking at his tax political hammer -- the low end which is basically looks like and all this little spike in it there's a little groove. And his picture when coming up on here basically put wiring connector there hammer that things are you can and basically plan everything out. Really really fancy. -- ActiveX and Braxton wire connectors and basically. There easy guy or on the public -- it appears that can be adjustable exchange will work with different size logs. And they do something really cool is they ratchet and you clamp down on them and basically the only neat it's small swing. And most importantly they know what build the device is properly correct. Definitely helps to have two people I'm not gonna try to clamp is on a piece alarm at least for your connector that's ridiculous. Actually he and I hadn't even remotely close enough. So in this case we're adjusting our jobs we're gonna clerk Hector in there and and mention to people being a lot easier for this you're gonna clamp it down. And that's gonna clamp around the -- C basically see this tiny -- of that aside there. My favorite part of this particular tool it was cheap but that it actually stamps in the mark on there. And aesthetically pleasing but I think it's an -- pretty well."

" thank -- virgin -- airlines were having -- spectacular. Ellison five days pre Valentine's day's -- being. It's and hours what are we talking about here. Bring in your loved one do you bring and you and your loved ones sending your -- moderate lover what ever makes you happy. We're talking about cheap prices prices so cheap deals sold amazingly tell me they can't even let me revealed that field team here going to happen and they -- an idiot that virgin America dot com. To find out that details mysterious. Acts. Here's favor. Hurry up go to that he it would be a virgin America dot com. -- heat because you don't want their help -- this episode the system and like it is that sabretech America's deals. And fabulous free now it's six. Somebody watching the show right now is twitching. Their hand is in the air their -- leaving the C. Because they are just fearful they -- global loading righteous indignation or down right anger we haven't mentioned what is probably the most important part. Of not lighting your vehicle on fire having AC power system which should be using. Fuses used everything fuses are cheap or easy to track down especially if you use them for some like a fifteen amp. And take the time -- the right views and there sure you can -- 35 can't use their bigger is better right. No you with the appropriate size fuse if you're running 15 -- for the wire but if you can't use and why some people more efforts and -- is gonna blow it -- wired systems and their components it's gonna protect you is a proper size use. Put it used in. You have to -- giant views like this six. We've covered a ton of stuff in this episode that he's giving him some of the finer points like you relates vigilantes who remotely control high amounts of current. Or zip ties which are my best friend and actually taxing things underneath the -- were routing wiring -- vehicle. And oh we mentioned the -- that's the steel in between the Energy Department in the passenger cabin got to pass wires through there high amounts of efforts to yourself favor -- of kind of bulkhead connector lower amounts of -- operate well basically pass through any all the available dammit steering -- popular just do me a favor. Make sure you put some kind of Gromit around the wiring inside of that holes with fuels and saw through there. We can talk about this a lot more but we want to summarize -- this episode or basic things one determine the power requirements of the item or items you're catching the battery. To do us a favor measure the distance between those items in the battery. Three take a look at those three into power -- cable chart that's gonna be the size of working age of wire you need and -- take your time to properly connect everything insulated. And use of use take your time do this right do it once I'm actually Norton. That's the thing. Solar system going to."

" But the fact that path that. Regardless -- very rigorous process."

" love -- drive mode makes it never comes fresh blood tests to check out."