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© 2005 Directed Electronics, Inc. Vista, CA
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Before making your connections, plan how your wires will be routed through the vehicle. For instance, the red
12V constant input and the orange ground-when-armed output (for the optional starter kill relay) will often be
routed together to the ignition switch harness. In order to keep the wiring neat and make it harder to find, you
may wish to wrap these wires together in electrical tape or conceal them in tubing similar to what the manu-
facturer used.
There are two acceptable ways of making a wire connection - solder connections and crimp connectors. When
properly performed, either type of connection is reliable and trouble-free. Regardless of whether you solder your
connections or you use mechanical-type crimp-on connections, ensure that all connections are mechanically
sound and that they are insulated.
Cheap electrical tape, especially when poorly applied, is not a reliable insulator. It often falls off in hot weather.
Use good-quality electrical tape or heat shrink.
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Never twist-and-tape the wires together without soldering.
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Never use “fuse taps”, as they can damage fuse box terminals.
If you use tapping connectors such as 3M T-Taps (not to be confused with Scotch-Locks), avoid using them in
higher-current applications (constant 12V, ground, etc.). Some tapping connectors are inferior in quality and
should be avoided.