Liquid tape

[Spare tyre]

The sodding lights on my dads trailer are being dicks AGAIN so I'm going to replace the crappy units with led ones

In recent times I've made the connections by soldering, smothering the connection in Vaseline, then heat shrink, then heat shrink again


However this time round I'm wondering if the best approach is crimped butt connectors with the adhesive heat shrink all in one and then some liquid tape

I've never used liquid tape but it does look good and very popular in the states

Does anyone know where I can pick some up on the high street, something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007PKBCAA/ref=...

[steveo3002]

not seen it in shops , i did have some years ago and it wasnt ideal , you have to be extra carefull to make sure its all covered

id go with some adhesive lined heatshrink - quick and easy

[wildoliver]

At the risk of appearing dumb is there any reason you don't just use proper trailer lights and wiring?

Until recently I've been doing quite a bit of work for the chap I rent my workshop off servicing trailers and rewired a couple due to either change of structure or (farmers) totally mashed lights and wiring, but certainly didn't have to re-do any that I did even on boat trailers. The proper light units are very cheap but also quite water proof if mounted correctly and used with the correct wiring that fits the grommets properly, ditto the splitter boxes and lighting plugs.

[dmiller]

I use Self Amalgamating tape over connections at work, it's always worked for me.

[defblade]

I use liquid tape on my radio control stuff, but I had to order it over t'net. If you've got a marine supplies shop near by, that might be a place to try.

[16plates]

Sounds a right bodge you've got going but if you insist on doing it that way, self amalgamating tape is the answer i rekon.

[Leptons]

Last time I needed to seal an electrical connection and add strength to it I used a hot melt glue gun. Worked a treat!

[shirt]

crimped spades and self amalgamating tape if its something cheap and cheerful. sure seal connectors and heat shrink if it needs doing properly.

[FlybyWyre]

If you are looking to do a waterproof splice then solder, heatshrink and then layer with self amalg and ScotchKote.
Works to 1500m Water Depth at 12V easy.
Possibly more than you want but reliable.

[Spare tyre]

Thanks for the responses

They are proper led trailer lights that are sealed, which is a good thing

They come with a 40cm trailing lead which I need to join to the plug wire

Here's a pic 99 arl is the model

[fangio]

Denzo tape?

[wildoliver]

They need to feed in to a junction box, they are peanuts to buy and keep the whole system reliable and water proof, not to mention very easy to service.

System should be Plug - Wire - Junction box(s) - out to lights.

There doesn't need to be any mid wire joins as it's just a recipe for problems later on, the cost of doing the job right is no more than finding solutions to the problem caused by not doing it right.

[paintman]

Heat seal crimp connectors?
Crimp the wires in then heat with a hot air gun (safer than matches!) until the heatshrink shrinks & you see the glue appear round the cable where it enters each end of the crimp. Never had a problem with them either on cars or on the boat.
This sort of thing, available from chandlers - I buy mine at a local motor factor: http://kojaycat.co.uk/Heat-Shrink-Terminals

[PhillipM]

I use liquid tape to seal the connections on the loom on the buggy - ring terminals, etc, on the back of instruments, I use the plasticote one, works great, although I thin it down a bit with acetone and use a smaller brush to apply it than it comes with