Trailer Wiring

For everything to do with Dolomites, Toledos, FWD cars and Dolomite-based kitcars.
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yorkshire_spam
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Trailer Wiring

#1 Post by yorkshire_spam »

Anyone got any tips about where to hook into the loom for wiring up a trailer socket?
(Earlyish 1850 wiring)
I could cut the loom or put "piggy back" connectors on the existing light connectors, but neither option seems good.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#2 Post by new to this »

I would use the connectors at the back of a rear light fitting

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Re: Trailer Wiring

#3 Post by Carledo »

The traditional method is that abomination AKA the "Scotchlok" connector!

What I'M doing on the Dolomega is making a sub loom with a 7 pin Rists plug and joining it into the main loom behind the N/S boot side board. I haven't finalized what to do at the main loom end yet, I was going to use an old fusebox as a 4 way bus bar (no fuses in it) but now find I need 6 poles as i'm plumbing in high level brake lights, rear fogs and reversing radar and want to do it all with one unit for neatness.

But the fusebox busbar would work for your car as you only need sidelights, brake lights and 2 indicators.

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#4 Post by yorkshire_spam »

Carledo wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 3:25 pm The traditional method is that abomination AKA the "Scotchlok" connector!
Ugh, no way.
I don't really want to cut into the loom to tee-off but at the same time I don't like the idea of piggy-backs all over the existing bulb holders.
On looms like the Spitifre's it's easy as there are loads of bullet connectors and sleeves all over the place - just swap the sleeve for one with more ways in it and tee-off that way. But I'm not fitting a tow bar to the Spitfire instead of the dolomite just because the wiring is easier.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#5 Post by Carledo »

It's not that easy to piggyback onto the bulb holders, for one thing they are too easily knocked off, for another, the bubholder tags are smaller than the standard 1/4" terminals.

I've been looking at Car builder solutions and their choices are more restrictive than mine, I think I will use 2 Dolomite fuseboxes in tandem (and shorn of the actual fuses) that will give me 8 poles to connect to. And each pole has at least 4 tags (1 has 6) I'll stick them to the inside of the wing with double sided badge tape. I might even push the boat out and buy 2 new ones, last time I looked they they were less than a fiver each!

I don't know about your car, but since I changed the front to rear loom for a better (and NOT scotchlock riddled) one with rear fog wiring in it, I now have a 6" loop of spare main loom right where I want it!

As you may have gathered, i'm NOT afraid to cut a loom about! What I don't like is when some numpty has been there before me and codged it up!

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#6 Post by yorkshire_spam »

Carledo wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 9:27 pm It's not that easy to piggyback onto the bulb holders, for one thing they are too easily knocked off, for another, the bubholder tags are smaller than the standard 1/4" terminals.

I've been looking at Car builder solutions and their choices are more restrictive than mine, I think I will use 2 Dolomite fuseboxes in tandem (and shorn of the actual fuses) that will give me 8 poles to connect to. And each pole has at least 4 tags (1 has 6) I'll stick them to the inside of the wing with double sided badge tape. I might even push the boat out and buy 2 new ones, last time I looked they they were less than a fiver each!

I don't know about your car, but since I changed the front to rear loom for a better (and NOT scotchlock riddled) one with rear fog wiring in it, I now have a 6" loop of spare main loom right where I want it!

As you may have gathered, i'm NOT afraid to cut a loom about! What I don't like is when some numpty has been there before me and codged it up!

Steve
Well I can get a sidelight feed without cutting anything - the number plate lamp connection is the old bullet type - so that's easy! I'll end up cutting the loom - I know it. It's not something I'm shy of doing, the Spitfire has a custom loom in places that I did myself (including NEW high current feeds to the front lamps via relays in a box under the dash)
I just though somebody might pipe up with "no don't do that, you know there's a multiway connector inside the rear wing panel" or something.
C'est la vie!
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#7 Post by Carledo »

yorkshire_spam wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 9:33 pm
Carledo wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 9:27 pm It's not that easy to piggyback onto the bulb holders, for one thing they are too easily knocked off, for another, the bubholder tags are smaller than the standard 1/4" terminals.

I've been looking at Car builder solutions and their choices are more restrictive than mine, I think I will use 2 Dolomite fuseboxes in tandem (and shorn of the actual fuses) that will give me 8 poles to connect to. And each pole has at least 4 tags (1 has 6) I'll stick them to the inside of the wing with double sided badge tape. I might even push the boat out and buy 2 new ones, last time I looked they they were less than a fiver each!

I don't know about your car, but since I changed the front to rear loom for a better (and NOT scotchlock riddled) one with rear fog wiring in it, I now have a 6" loop of spare main loom right where I want it!

As you may have gathered, i'm NOT afraid to cut a loom about! What I don't like is when some numpty has been there before me and codged it up!

Steve
Well I can get a sidelight feed without cutting anything - the number plate lamp connection is the old bullet type - so that's easy! I'll end up cutting the loom - I know it. It's not something I'm shy of doing, the Spitfire has a custom loom in places that I did myself (including NEW high current feeds to the front lamps via relays in a box under the dash)
I just though somebody might pipe up with "no don't do that, you know there's a multiway connector inside the rear wing panel" or something.
C'est la vie!
I wish! No connector nearer than the A post!
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#8 Post by yorkshire_spam »

I bit the bullet (pun intended) and split the loom towards the back of the NSR wing, crimped in bullets and added 4 way bullet sleeves.

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Re: Trailer Wiring

#9 Post by Carledo »

I went a bit mad!

2 x 6terminal 3 pole bus bars!


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Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#10 Post by yorkshire_spam »

The main thing about both solutions is.... no scotchlocks!
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#11 Post by soe8m »

yorkshire_spam wrote: I bit the bullet (pun intended) and split the loom towards the back of the NSR wing, crimped in bullets and added 4 way bullet sleeves.
More have done it that way.

Jeroen

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Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com
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Re: Trailer Wiring

#12 Post by Carledo »

soe8m wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:41 pm
yorkshire_spam wrote: I bit the bullet (pun intended) and split the loom towards the back of the NSR wing, crimped in bullets and added 4 way bullet sleeves.
More have done it that way.

Jeroen

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I went the way I did because 1) I hate bullet connectors almost as much as Scotchloks and 2) I had to interrupt EVERY wire going back including reverse light (for the camera) and foglights (for the trailer) as well as 4 leads for brakelights (hi level and trailer) and connecting in the buzzer for indicators (the first time i've ever bothered with one)

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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