What are the BEST wiring connectors you can use?

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How do you choose the best wiring connector for your wiring jobs?
This is one of the most common wiring questions we get when it comes to wiring connector selection, and fair enough! Connectors are one of the more important elements of any wiring harness and there can be a baffling range of options. Your choice will be dictated often by the sensor or actuator you’re using and, of course, your budget, remembering there is often specific tooling for specific terminals.
In this webinar, we’ll look at some of the more common options you have. This is a HPA members-only lesson that has already been available on our website for 12 months or so along with over 300 other lessons on a range of topics.
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TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:23 - Pro harness overview
3:46 - Considerations when choosing a connector
7:50 - Problems with factory connectors | Availability
9:26 - Connector suppliers
11:55 - Problems with factory connectors | Reliability
21:54 - Potting a sensor or actuator
28:15 - Choosing a connector | Autosport
32:48 - Choosing a connector | Deutsch
42:50 - Choosing a connector | TE Connectivity Composite
45:43 - Choosing a connector | Racespec aka 'Milspec' etc
49:32 - Questions
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LINKS:
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Podcast: hpcdmy.co/podcast
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TAGS:
#highperformanceacademy #buildtunedrive #wiring101 #auto #carmods #automotive #motorsport #autosport #wiring #wiringharness #automotive #racespec #milspec #dtm #deutsch #autoport #crimping

[@TheGinger1]

You have done an amazing job of this story. Something people will be watching for decades to come. Thank you.

[@hpa101]

Thanks mate! We hope it will be super helpful for a long time to come too - Taz.

[@treysperformance2804]

Macon Georgia 87 supra targa 1jz non vvti single Garrett R154. What it do! 🤙 yall have been a game changer thank you 🫲

[@newagetemplar6100]

Priceless content. One thing I always do is put a 2 pin Anderson connector on the car so it can be jump started and also used to charge a cars battery. So much easier and safer than jump leads . I’ve used the small grey ones and have still had no problems jump starting a car as long as you don’t do it for long periods . Also some audio connectors are very high quality and suitable for some applications , some RC car battery connectors are also high quality and often gold plated.

[@wgmskiing]

In the discussion about the autosport connector vs "milspec" connector density I think some context is missing. The autosport connectors were derived from mil-spec connectors and improved with added density and other autosport features. However, there are a wide variety of different "milspec" circular connectors with different densities and contact/insulation/cable sizes. There may be "milspec" 38999 connectors that also wouldn't work for your firewall bulkhead, while others will. And then there's "milspec" 5015 circular connectors that support much larger power wiring. To make this even more confusing, these traditional aerospace generated "milspecs" are now "AS" specs maintained by the Society of Automotive Engineers....the military has largely left the standards business. Add to this wrinkles like: commercial grade connectors that maybe are identical to a milspec connector except testing requirements or some other detail like plating....industrial connectors along those lines, and lastly, that there are also fiendishly expensive cutting edge high density "milspec" connectors for aerospace as well. It's enough to spin your head a few times.

[@hpa101]

Yup! Which just drives home the point the term 'milspec' is pointless unless coupled with the relevant specification in a conversation where it is actually relevant 😎 At the end of the day though so long as people know what is being said and are getting the right connectors it's not the end of the world to use such terms, its just a pet peeve of many - Taz.

[@hpa101]

What's the most loved, and most HATED wiring connector you've used? - Taz. 🦸‍♂ Building a fast car? Get $400 OFF the all inclusive VIP online course package deal: hpcdmy.co/vipy86 ⚡ 50% off your first online wiring course! Get the knowledge and confidence you want. Enrol today: hpcdmy.co/offery86 TIME STAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:23 - Pro harness overview 3:46 - Considerations when choosing a connector 7:50 - Problems with factory connectors | Availability 9:26 - Connector suppliers 11:55 - Problems with factory connectors | Reliability 21:54 - Potting a sensor or actuator 28:15 - Choosing a connector | Autosport 32:48 - Choosing a connector | Deutsch 42:50 - Choosing a connector | TE Connectivity Composite 45:43 - Choosing a connector | Racespec aka 'Milspec' etc 49:32 - Questions

[@Alexander-nz1dz]

Love the AS connectors from having messed with them a bit in FSAE. Pricy but if you have the right (expensive) tooling and know how, they are surprisingly easy to work with and bulletproof in use.

[@OGNISTYSZKQAJDII]

I was working at DAF authorised service all connectors were TE conectivty Heavy Duty automotive connectors there is a wide range of connectors diifferent mounting styles i found it perfect for chassis harness they all are lever lock what makes them very reliable and they are quite cheap exception being sockets for modules but still they are llike 30$ + terminals but all connectors from this series uses same ones so when making a haness we need them in bulk anyway terminals are like 21c piece without bulk order comparing it to mil connetors in which just one housing can cost up to 400$ i found it perfect middle ground also the harness will have clean oem style for street cars it can be a huge deal to pass inspection

[@hpa101]

Good work on finding something that suits and cheers for sharing! Absolutely a solid middle ground to be had for club and street applications that won't break the bank but are still 100% going to tick the requirement boxes - Taz.

[@jimmyc7269]

Amphenol has a line of DT compatible connectors, AT/ATM/ATP, and they have keyed and colored variants.

[@stevesloan6775]

Definitely need to watch this a few more times. 😂 🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼😎🍀☮️

[@hpa101]

If you have any questions fire them up as you go and we'll do our best for you too mate 😎 - Taz.

[@kennygaines1863]

Hello I'm working on a car project I'm going to be using autosport connectors for the ecu and engine harness but I'm also going to be doing a chassis harness and since I'll be using autosport connectors for the ecu and engine harness should I keep with those for the chassis harness or should I use plain mil spec connectors.

[@Versedian]

Worked for TE Connectivity in the past making Deutsch DT Connectors; always wondered as a customer do you guys inspect your parts for things such as non-fills on the insulator walls or just trust the connector was made without any QA issues?

[@hpa101]

'Trust, but verify' is a saying Zac and Andre here love - Taz.

[@kennygaines1863]

would the mil spec connector be as good as a motorsport connector inside the chassis out of the elements and is the no way to add a boot to one. and if so would you have to machine a piece to add so that you could boot it

[@nicholasseeger4637]

Can you please give examples of the make/series of connector you used for the Toyota 86 bulkhead that are “mil spec “ but accept OE harness as I have a similar issue on another vehicle Thanks in advance

[@XxRaceBoy24xX]

The angle of the photo makes it difficult to identify the exact size/contact arrangement of the connectors used, but generally they look to be matched pairs of MIL-DTL-26482 connectors, MS 3470 and MS 3476, commonly made by Amphenol. The smaller pair looks to be a size 18 shell, so based on the wire insulation size my guess is a matched pair MS 3470A18-32S bulkhead receptacle and MS 3476A18-32P free-hanging plug. If you're based in the US, several retailers will stock that series of connectors in various contact arrangements, including Mouser, Prowire, MilSpecWiring, and more

[@erickbernard8208]

Yo Yo

[@hpa101]

Sup!

[@erickbernard8208]

@@hpa101 stroke #5 at 36

[@justion337]

Connector experts is criminally overpriced. Most are like 20-30 times as much as sourcing them from electronics suppliers and they don't have any indication that they're genuine parts. I would stay away unless you have zero other options.

[@stormvaneersel5476]

Yeah crazy prices there. But they are perfect to find a connector you need and then reverse image search it and buy it for 10 bucks instead of the 130 they are asking

[@JimPekarek]

You're not kidding. I just checked them out, and a simple two-wire connector that costs maybe 7 cents to manufacture is listed for $72. I should get a box of 100 for that price.