Water in the Electrics

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Would water ingress into my driving light circuit cause them to intermittently work/not work?
Further, would a car parked in the rain all day allow water into the circuit? Even if waterproof connections are used?

[Hogey66 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hogey66]

If you know the model of your lights you should be able to find out the IP rating for them then check on this table http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart as to the water/dust proof ability they should have. Intermittently not working is most often due to poor quality wiring. I had to redo the complete driving light circuit on the 120 I bought earlier this year as the crimps looked liked they had been done with a grade 1 students pair of plastic scissors. Many of the crimp connectors pulled straight out with minimal effort! the tap into the high beam circuit was very loose, and when he ran out of electrical tape to put on the twisted connections he reverted to using cellotape. Rain should not affect the wiring.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

If you know the model of your lights you should be able to find out the IP rating for them then check on this table http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart as to the water/dust proof ability they should have. Intermittently not working is most often due to poor quality wiring. I had to redo the complete driving light circuit on the 120 I bought earlier this year as the crimps looked liked they had been done with a grade 1 students pair of plastic scissors. Many of the crimp connectors pulled straight out with minimal effort! the tap into the high beam circuit was very loose, and when he ran out of electrical tape to put on the twisted connections he reverted to using cellotape. Rain should not affect the wiring.

I'm using the lightforce wiring harness, installed in part by Toyota and in part by me and a mate.

When this happened before, I found water in the conduit and had to dry various bits out with a hair dryer.

Seems to only be an issue when the car sits in the rain at work...

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Can you identify where the water is entering and can you seal that up? If the cables can short then I would think what you describe is possible.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Can you identify where the water is entering and can you seal that up? If the cables can short then I would think what you describe is possible.

Probably... Is it worth completely redoing the wiring back to the relay/battery/etc?
I think that might be the best way to prevent any ingress in the future.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Probably... Is it worth completely redoing the wiring back to the relay/battery/etc?
I think that might be the best way to prevent any ingress in the future.

I would. In there somewhere is a connection that isn't waterproof.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I would. In there somewhere is a connection that isn't waterproof.

Looks like I have a job for the weekend...Good opportunity to upgrade the cable size too...some of it looks a little thin for my liking!

Suggestions on the waterproof connectors I should use??

[Hogey66 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hogey66]

Looks like I have a job for the weekend...Good opportunity to upgrade the cable size too...some of it looks a little thin for my liking!

Suggestions on the waterproof connectors I should use??

The best connection is soldering. Heat shrink over the join or use this http://www.jaycar.com.au/Service-Aid...Nitto/p/NM2826 to give a waterproof finish.
I also try to stagger the joins by a couple of inches wherever possible.

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

heat shrink over the joins is a good start.
I use a neutral cure sealant over the soldered joint then slip the heat shrink on.

The joint is then water proof.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I have good success with the Narva waterproof connections but you need the right crimping tool.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I have good success with the Narva waterproof connections but you need the right crimping tool.

This is what is on there now, though we crimped using standard crimping tools and then soldered.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Green and black ones? Had no issues with these. Deutsche connectors are better but lower current rating (though enough) but again a different crimping tool.

Standard crimp compromises the seal which may be your problem.

[Greenie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Greenie]

Good chance water is getting into the relay or relay base or connections to it.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Green and black ones? Had no issues with these. Deutsche connectors are better but lower current rating (though enough) but again a different crimping tool.

Standard crimp compromises the seal which may be your problem.

Green and black, yeah. I wonder if I can find d the right crimping tool near by...

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Took a bit of a look around today. Connections all seem dry. Jiggled the fuse and lights are working.
The 30A fuse does make a squeaky whistle sound when the lights are on. That's a new one for me...

Might start with a new fuse and holder. This ones looking a bit dodgy.