bilge pump: need wire connection tips

[Lupe]

Hi all,

I've assembled a pump system I'm going to install in my canoe with a battery pack with switches and 2 small atwood pumps. I'm using a trailer hitch assembly which will allow me to (relatively) easily disconnect the battery pack so that I can bring it in to recharge the batteries, and also just to get all that heavy battery (SLA) weight out of the boat when loading the boat.

I wired everything together to make sure it works the way it's supposed to and it does, but I just did little wire twists and used a little electrical tape for checking the basic set up. Now that I'm ready to assemble everything for real, what's the best (read: most secure and permanent) way to join my wires? I have wires I need to connect, I have a set of 2 wires I need to connect to just one, and I have wires I need to connect to terminals. I do not have a soldering iron nor do I know how to solder wires.

Can I make all my wire connections without soldering?
If so, what's the best method?
Any suggestions/do/don'ts/etc?

I'm figuring I'll go chat with some folks at Radio Shack, but thought I'd see if my canoe club buddies have any suggestions for me first!

Thanks!

[paddledog]

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http://www.irrigationdirect.com/irrigat ... connectors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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[Tim Eubanks]

My wires are connected with twist on wire nuts wrapped with black electrical tape. My switch is "stuck" in the saddle with sportsman goop.It is not "water proof" according to the label, as I remember. My battery is in a plastic bottle with a screw on lid, wires are "glued" into bottle with more sportsmans goop. It has been submerged several times (Ocoee) and I've never had an issue.
don't go crazy.

[darkaly]

...but if you decide to solder, we can loan you the iron. Two of the three members of our family are pretty good at this and could show you how to do it.

[Lemme Hucknboof]

I've used the heat shrink tubes and regular wire nuts filled with silicone. Both worked.

Why two small pumps? What size pump do most people use?

Levi

[Deuce]

I'd suggest butt connectors sealed on each end with liquid electrical tape. I have some crimpers you're welcome to use. For extra security you could double the wires back over the connection and zip tie them together.

[Chicago Bob]

Heather I have a good number and variety of electrical connectors and crimpers left over from my audio career. You are welcome to any or all that you need. They are in bins with drawers and are clearly marked as to size and type. I suggest that you take the bins pick and use what ever you need and return the remainder at your convenience. I can get them to Mitch if you like. Call me 922-1716 BOB

[Lupe]

Okay, I managed to tidy up most of my connections, but not confident about where I need to join 3 wires together...Aly: thanks for you offer! I might want to consider a soldering lesson from the Sig family for my 2 wire to 1 wire connects (it's just 2 connections)!

Some folks use just 1 pump, but you can run 2 off of the same battery and get the boat cleared a bit faster. The newer Attwood Tsunami 1200's are practically half the size of the old 1250, so it's pretty easy to do 2 with almost no added weight (all the weight is in the battery).

Plus then you have symmetrical discharge hoses!

What the heck...another fun project...why not?

[Lupe]

Jinx! Bob you were posting at same time as me!

Thanks for the offer Bob! Hope you're having a fun time visiting with your daughter. Just got back in town myself from your namesake town!

[Cowper]

I recommend you take up Aly's offer on the soldering. Then use the shrink wrap and some type of goop as suggested by others to completely water proof you splice. (The Liquid electrical tape mentioned by Luke would be perfect - saw it on the Attwood web page just in case local store clerks look at you funny and don't know about it...)

Leave the wires a little long; if water gets in and it corrodes a few years down the line, you want to have enough wire present to cut out the bad sections and re-splice.

At higher discharge rates, the batteries can not deliver their full rated capacity, and it is not a linear relationship. Looks like the Atwoods draw 3.5 amps each. If you have a 7 amp-hour battery, it should be able to handle that reasonably well. A 5 amp hour will do it too, but at the higher discharge rates your battery will only deliver about 2.5 amp-hours of capacity and last for only 20 to 25 minutes of pumping time. It also makes it more likely that you will fully discharge the battery, before the day is over. Full discharges will hurt total life of the lead acid batteries, which don't like deep discharges. Don't let this slow you down; I think having two pumps is a great idea; but if it doesn't fully meet your expectations, then when you replace it buy a bigger battery!

[fryingsquirrel]

Soldering is the way to go. Butt connectors, wire nuts, and bullet disconnects all can let moisture in, which will result in corrosion. Corrosion equals more resistance, and as resistance goes up, current goes down (unless you increase voltage to allow for higher resistance). I've fought many a corrosion caused high resistance malfunction in automotive computer control systems, and they are invariably a pain in the rear. The best way to make a connection is to solder with a good rosin core solder, make sure the joint is very well filled in, and insulate with a type of heat shrink that has glue inside it that melts when heat is applied. Used to use the stuff at the dealership, and is is just about fail proof. It is kinda hard to find, I'd think Treadway Electric or a good electric supplier would have it, or ask for it at the parts counter of any Dodge dealer

http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrink ... hesive.htm
Also available here, after a quick google search.

Jon Ellwood

[Moniker]

And melting metal with heat is fun!I've used silicone to seal wire connections,not pretty but it seems to work.
I use a battery from a self propelled lawn mower which I recharge with a trickle charger.I also use it and my pump to run my Zodi shower.The only connection that isn't sealed is the trailer type connector on the battery,but I haven't had a problem yet.

[Komoroski]

Another vote for solder and shrink-tubing!
By far, the best and most reliable connection method for a mobile environment.

This coming from 10 years of installing / maintaining emergency comm equipment in vehicles.

I also learned to make SURE to slide the tubing down the wire BEFORE soldering the two ends together,
far enough that excess heat from the soldering process does not begin premature shrinkage of the tubing.

Everyone hates premature shrinkage of the tubing.

Good luck with your project!

[randominsects]

let me know if you want help working on your oc1 roll...

[Chester]

Heather, I have several irons you could borrow. With two 2 mins. instruction time, you'd be a pro for this job. Or we could do it right here in no time.