bulkhead connectors

[dn010]

This is going to seem like an odd question but - the wiring that goes through the bulkhead connectors - what is the highest amperage that goes through these? Nothing connected to these pull more than a few amps, right?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Well I swear I posted the bulkhead diagram before but can not find it.

Anyway, I'm sure there are some higher current circuits. The starter solenoid is probably 10 amps, the ignition power is 6 amps and there must be more.

You must be thinking about installing new connectors?

[TTait]

Well I swear I posted the bulkhead diagram before but can not find it.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?40-All-Wiring-Schematics

post #6

[Bitsyncmaster]

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?40-All-Wiring-Schematics

post #6

Thanks. I looked there but did not see the .pdf file to open. Was expecting it to be displayed.


Anyway it looks like one more of the bulkhead circuits (AC clutch) would be about 6 or 7 amps.

[DeLorean03]

Black one has the brakelights that pulls a good 6.1A or so I know that much.

[dn010]

Thanks guys, I was quick to post and didn't think about the A/C or starter! My terminals are pretty unreliable so I'm weighing the possibility of putting in new terminals or just doing a terminal kit so my plastics stay the same, just using new metal connectors...

[Bitsyncmaster]

Thanks guys, I was quick to post and didn't think about the A/C or starter! My terminals are pretty unreliable so I'm weighing the possibility of putting in new terminals or just doing a terminal kit so my plastics stay the same, just using new metal connectors...

I just ordered a set off 100 pins and sockets. I checked one of these 3 mm round pins and it had no tension inserted into the socket. It will be interesting to see how much tension the new pins have. I plan to replace every pin and maybe every socket. I did come up with a fix. That was to pull the pin and expand the gap in the round pin. This one pin I checked had no gap at all.

[dn010]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase your pins / socket sets? I have the same problem you're describing - the pins just don't make contact anymore and I am having intermittent interruptions in power to my engine and lights, etc. The design IMHO - is somewhat poor considering my '57 Cadillac's male / female bulkhead connection actually lock into each other and are weather resistant - disconnect and the pins look brand new. My connectors are corroded, but this is inevitable due to the fact the car sat (previously owned) for an unknown period of time outside with no coil cover.

Nonetheless, would everyone agree that there are no more than about 10 amps running back there (for starter)? Lights don't really matter to me as I will eventually be doing the all around LED conversions...but that I'll leave for another day. Thanks everyone for your input on this.

[Bitsyncmaster]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase your pins / socket sets? I have the same problem you're describing - the pins just don't make contact anymore and I am having intermittent interruptions in power to my engine and lights, etc. The design IMHO - is somewhat poor considering my '57 Cadillac's male / female bulkhead connection actually lock into each other and are weather resistant - disconnect and the pins look brand new. My connectors are corroded, but this is inevitable due to the fact the car sat (previously owned) for an unknown period of time outside with no coil cover.

Nonetheless, would everyone agree that there are no more than about 10 amps running back there (for starter)? Lights don't really matter to me as I will eventually be doing the all around LED conversions...but that I'll leave for another day. Thanks everyone for your input on this.

http://www.britishwiring.com/CAT26_27.PDF

Part number 833 and 834. You may want to wait till I get them to make sure they will work in our connector shells. I tried to get a discount but they would not do it.

Now you will need pin extractors unless you buy the shells also. I was going to do that but they only come in white. I have to machine my own extractors because these pins SUCK in the way they designed the latching clips.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I got the pins today. Exactly the same pin but have not checked the socket side yet. There is no gap in the pin side so even the new pin does not have much tension in an old socket. There is pretty good tension mating with a new socket. Looks like the socket side has no gap but the old socket has a little. Maybe when the connection gets hot the socket side lost it's temper.

I still think I will put a small gap into the new pins when I install them. You can't put to much tension on them if you have many pins in the connector or you will have a hard time separating the connectors.

[jangell]

Resurrecting a four year old thread...

I need to relocate some some pins and sockets from my bulkhead connectors. I picked up a set of terminal tools from Amazon, but I get the feeling they aren't quite the ones I need: Lisle 57750 Wire Terminal Tool Kit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WQQHA2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

So that brings me to my first question: How is this tool supposed to work? I figure it just slides over the outside of the pins and pushes the extended "wings" in so that it can slide out the back of the connector. I'm less clear on the sockets, but I"m guessing it's the same idea, right?

Relatedly, I need some new pins and sockets for my connectors. However, britishwiring.com doesn't seem to list just the pins and sockets anymore, so I'm not sure how to go about getting new ones. This page seems to have our 9-pin connectors (http://www.britishwiring.com/Multi-Wire-Connectors-s/35.htm?searching=Y&sort=5&cat=35&show=50&page=1)with pins/sockets in white, but it seems silly to buy the whole connecter when I just need the pins and sockets. Does anyone know if these are still available?

Also, I notice that they sell a similar but differently-colored (so probably differently-sized) extraction tool (http://www.britishwiring.com/product-p/ast8.htm), so I'm guessing I might need theirs instead of the ones I got for our connectors?

I'm also curious about the alternate tool you had to machine to get these out.

Thanks!

-- Joe

[Bitsyncmaster]

I made my own extraction tool but even with the correct size, those latching fingers on the pins are pointed and bite into the plastic connector housing. So you have to push the back side of the pin while using the extractor so it lifts those points off the plastic. The male pins are not to much work to extract but the female pins take more time and even need to be pulled hard from the back side.

When they were selling pins only, the cost was the same as buying the connector with pins.

[BABIS]

Also, I notice that they sell a similar but differently-colored (so probably differently-sized) extraction tool (http://www.britishwiring.com/product-p/ast8.htm), so I'm guessing I might need theirs instead of the ones I got for our connectors?

-- Joe

these tools won't extract the female pins, I have them.

I buy pins and sockets here http://www.autosparks.co.uk/electrical-components/plugs-connectors/pin-socket-plugs.html

[jangell]

I have Josh Schattenkirk's old 3.0L EFI wiring harness that I'm adapting to my car. He reused the bulkhead connectors for the EFI system, including the red connector. The problem is that have an automatic, so I need the red connector for the transmission. I just need to move the pins and sockets from the red connector to the unused ports (which have no pins/sockets in them, thankfully) of the other connectors.

The simplest solution is to push out the old pins and pop them into their new connectors, but I could also cut the wires, solder them to new pins/sockets and push them into their respective connectors.

I don't have a way to machine my own tool for extracting the sockets, so I'm thinking of giving britishwiring.com's extractor tool a try, and getting the pins/sockets with a new connector (I didn't notice the price was the same as just getting the pins sockets) as a backup plan. It seems like it'll be cheaper and faster than ordering from the UK and having them shipped to the US. My googling couldn't find another source for the extractor tool, either.

Thanks!

-- Joe