Terminating Wiring

[Lewis's Friend]

Quick question...

I have some unused engine bay wiring that will not be required after my engine swap.

To tidy it up, i'd like to cut the unused wiring back. However, I don't just want to chop then and put some tape around them. Is there a 'proper' way of terminating unused wires?

I'm not going to step the loom open and pull the wires back. I just want to neaten the bay up.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[tapkaJohnD]

Heat shrink, cut to hang over the end of the wire.
J.

[Penelope Stopit]

As above. While hot, squeeze the heat-shrink flat where it is past the end of the cable and it will bond to itself. Another tip, don't cut the cables in the same place, cut the cables in a staggered fashion, heat-shrink and then tape

[anonymous-user]

What you need to avoid is damp (water) wicking up the loom and corroding it from the inside. Either use the "glue lined" heatshrink or use a hot glue gun to seal over the end before you heat shrink over the end. When you heat shrink, leave a bit hanging well over the end (say 10mm at least) heat it till it shrinks, and then bend back the hanging bit over the end to help seal everything up.

[Lewis's Friend]

Thanks for the feedback chaps. That's just what I was after!

In particular I want to get the wires neat but waterproof as they are routed on a flat panel in the engine bay which can have water runoff.

I will definitely be doing as suggested though... ...after I've got the new engine running. I'm too scared to go cutting wires beforehand!

[Whatsmyname]

Use dead end / bomb end crimps.

[tapkaJohnD]

Wow! Learn something every day! "Bomb end crimps" Never heard of them before!

WMN, why are they so called?
JOhn

[Whatsmyname]

tapkaJohnD said:

Wow! Learn something every day! "Bomb end crimps" Never heard of them before!

WMN, why are they so called?
JOhn

[Penelope Stopit]

This engine loom is looking worse by the minute due to the glue and crimps

[tapkaJohnD]

WMN,
Yes, I found that pic too. I asked why, not what do they look like. Clearly you are correct but it's a weird name!
John

[Whatsmyname]

tapkaJohnD said:

WMN,
Yes, I found that pic too. I asked why, not what do they look like. Clearly you are correct but it's a weird name!
John

The end looks like a bomb fin tail.

[thetrickcyclist]

https://www.hellermanntyton.co.uk/products/heat-sh...


Usual rule of thumb applies, if it looks good, it probably is.

[tapkaJohnD]

Whatsmyname said:

The end looks like a bomb fin tail.

Fur nuff!
J.

[DrDeAtH]

Just go with the adhesive line heat shrink as mentioned above. Just cut each wire a different length so that all the cut ends are not all at the same point.
Tape the loom up afterwards to make it neat again.

[Lewis's Friend]

DrDeAtH said:

Just go with the adhesive line heat shrink as mentioned above. Just cut each wire a different length so that all the cut ends are not all at the same point.
Tape the loom up afterwards to make it neat again.

I think that's what I'll be doing. I like the look of the heat shrink caps, but they seem a bit pricey and don't seem to go down to little wire sizes (2mm etc). Whereas a £1 of heat shrink and some good tape should make it nice and neat.

[cmsapms]

Lewis's Friend said:

I think that's what I'll be doing. I like the look of the heat shrink caps, but they seem a bit pricey and don't seem to go down to little wire sizes (2mm etc). Whereas a £1 of heat shrink and some good tape should make it nice and neat.

Larger diameter heat shrink shrunk over multiple wires can look neater than taping.

[Steve_D]

I always fold the last 2-3mm of the wire back on itself then heatshrink. The small lump ensures the shrink can't come off.
If you are going to tape the loom make sure you use the correct loom tape not normal electricians self adhesive tape.

Steve

[Penelope Stopit]

Steve_D said:

I always fold the last 2-3mm of the wire back on itself then heatshrink. The small lump ensures the shrink can't come off.
If you are going to tape the loom make sure you use the correct loom tape not normal electricians self adhesive tape.

Steve

Many loom tapes are of the adhesive type, Nitto adhesive loom tape makes a very good job
Although others swear by non adhesive loom tape they are not doing themselves any favours, non adhesive tape has a habit of undoing itself when its taped down or heat-shrunk end fails, there is also a big problem of tape loosening that arises when a loom needs to be cut open for fault finding or modifying
The best looms have proven to be adhesive taped looms even though the adhesive does tend to flow in hot areas of the engine bay

Obviously this is a matter of personal choice but.....

[Penelope Stopit]

Why do we often overlook the obvious? I've used this often yet it didn't even enter my mind when posting here

This is the dogs bks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_ta...

[stevieturbo]

Not always great for hot environments though.

There are plenty of sleevings available. The expandable braided type is very good for looms, but takes a little planning to get it all right, with glued heat shrink to secure it in place at any ends/junctions.

Tape is convenient though and fine for most. Lots of tape these days is very poor quality though.