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Wired Up!

Circle Track Has Gathered Some Basic Wiring Tips From Some Of The Industry’s Top Wiring Professionals
February, 2009
By Meghan Frazier
Photography by Meghan Frazier
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To avoid overheating it is... 
   
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To avoid overheating it is essential you use fuses or circuit breakers on all electrical circuits.
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Terminals come in all shapes... 
   
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Terminals come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing the correct terminal for your car’s wiring system, along with a proper crimp, will ensure a reliable connection and, in most cases, a night free of electrical problems.
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Careful selection of connectors... 
   
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Careful selection of connectors is important. Environment, type of connector and current rating, among other things, should all be considered in order to prevent electrical failure.
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Like terminals and connectors,... 
   
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Like terminals and connectors, it is important to select the correct barrel size when you are splicing wire. Select your barrel size based on the wire size you are using.
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Proper crimp tool selection... 
   
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Proper crimp tool selection is almost as important as the wiring system itself. Poor crimps may cause unreliable connections and broken wire strands. Crimping tools range from the more expensive powered crimpers to the basic manual crimper most racers should have in their tool box.
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A shroud, whether it is made... 
   
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A shroud, whether it is made of nylon or another type of material, is often recommended for added protection of the wiring harness assembly.
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Proper assembly and installation... 
   
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Proper assembly and installation are extremely important when it comes to your car’s wiring system. Extra time and effort should be put into routing the assembly.
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You want to avoid sharp edges,... 
   
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You want to avoid sharp edges, areas susceptible to damage, high temperatures and anywhere that flexing may occur.

From the lowest class of stock car racing all the way up to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, wiring is an important aspect of getting your race car to Victory Lane. One bad connection or exposed wire can ruin your chances of finishing the race. Circle Track spoke to numerous experts who deal with wiring systems in race cars to come up with some hot tips on how to install and maintain your race car’s wiring system.

Many of our experts manufacture and install wiring systems for the upper levels of auto racing, such as the Winston Cup Series. Though their products may be at the higher end of the racing spectrum, their tips on proper wiring cover all classes of racing.

In regards to weatherproofing and fire prevention, Dennis Overholser of Painless Performance supplied us with a great many tips, while Wade Brown of Brown & Miller Racing Solutions gave us some pointers on connectors, terminals and switches. Last, but not least, David Hatfield of Hatfield Ignition let us in on some of his tips for batteries, battery cables and ignition wires.

Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
4005 Dearborn Pl. NW
Concord
NC  28027
704/793-4319
Pacific Industrial Components Inc. (PICO)
2545 Prairie Rd.
Eugene
OR  97402
800/547-5328
Hatfield Ignitions
9900 Twin Lakes Pkwy.
Charlotte
NC  28269
828/241-4621

www.hatfieldignitions.com
Painless Performance
9505 Santa Paula Dr.
Fort Worth
TX  76116
800/423-9696

www.painlessperformance.com

Toyota Tacoma Research
Toyota Tacoma When shopping for a new car take a look at the Toyota Tacoma. The 2010 Tacoma goes for a suggested retail price of $20,105.00. It has had 4 vehicle recalls, which can give you an idea about its reliability. You may also be interested in the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Dodge Viper.
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