I'm ready to hook up my electrical system to my starter through the supplied fusible link. Do I use a crimp connector or can I solder and heat shrink it? There's quite a difference in wire sizes. Gary
Im not an electrician, but I worked on the construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant way back and the electricians there crimped only, not soldered. They claimed the solder has a tendency to travel up the wire a ways from the connector and if it would ever fail it would be at the point the solder ended and the wire met. Ever since Ive used un insulated connectors with shrink tubing on all the cars and bikes ive built with no problems....Again im not an electrician by trade, im a sprinklerfitter, but i figured if it was good enough for a nuclear plant it was good enough for me.
most repair kits supply crimp connectors , on OEms that what we used when we replaced them and then taped or shrink sealed the connector boots so corrosion didn't start there . just remember where you put the Fusible link to make sure there is nothing flammable like other wires or oil or insulation near it incase it lets loose .as it can start a fire . and also place it so you can get at it somewhat easily too . having done many gms and have to fish the wires down to the starter or trying to fix it under the car is a pain , and you know Murphys law , "place it some where easily to be fixed and it will never have to be fixed , place it where its buried and it will always have to be dug up " and give yourself some extra lead incase it has to be replaced again
Definitely add a service loop into a fusible link wiring. I had to replace one in an older Chevy wagon and the wire I was trying to splice to was partially fried and was getting shorter and shorter. Better to leave the wires long, secure the bundle with shrink sleeve and or wire ties so it can be un-done later if needed.
Always found the fusible link an interesting part of the after market wiring kits. Can a standard fuse not be used instead. Would surely be easier to swap a fuse than refix the starter wire if your out cruis'n.
crimping alone may fail, solder too with heat shrink covering connections. suggestion about leaving a little extra wire in system is good. but, likely the wiring up/down to the fusible link will need to be replaced too. no, do not substitute a fuse for fusible link. the fluctuation in amps will eventually cause fuse to fail when no major problem exists. a friend parked his ride in his garage and went inside house, smelled smoke or something, and came out to garage to see that his car had a electrical fire - seems that a diode in his alternator failed, with no fusible link
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