Help with wiring in quick connectors to run portable compressor

[SierraBronco]

You can do it on a short run, like around 5'. That's why I'm saying so long as this is inside the hood, can probably do that. But not out at the tailgate.

Shoot, you can go all the way up to 300A on a really short run with #6.

You just gave me ptsd. Air compressor running for ten minutes straight with a bunch of 10G wire through a 120 amp fuse.

Speaking of that...OP-get a halon 1211 fire extinguisher. Thank me when you put your fire out and don't need to battle corrosion for weeks.

Sponsored

 

[Draughon]

FFS this is getting complicated!

Thor's Lightning is advertising that their electrical connections are 8' long with that smaller gauge wire and the anderson connector built in. No in line fuses..

My dumb ass here was thinking "great - why can't 2-3 feet go from the battery to the front grill / bumper, and the other 5 feet go to the compressor with a quick connect in between"

Seemed to be as simple as that - now we're talking re-wiring the compressor with heavier gauge wire or making multiple connection points for relays, fuses, distribution blocks....

 

[Brian_B]

FFS this is getting complicated!

Thor's Lightning is advertising that their electrical connections are 8' long with that smaller gauge wire and the anderson connector built in. No in line fuses..

My dumb ass here was thinking "great - why can't 2-3 feet go from the battery to the front grill / bumper, and the other 5 feet go to the compressor with a quick connect in between"

Seemed to be as simple as that - now we're talking re-wiring the compressor with heavier gauge wire or making multiple connection points for relays, fuses, distribution blocks....

Well.

I think most of us (some from experience) are trying to make it bulletproof - knowing that these Broncos go over the river and through the woods. No one here is giving bad advice - there may be different opinions, but I don’t think following any of it would burn down your Bronco.

Thor only has to replace his air compressor if it fails under warranty. If it happens to also burn down your Bronco - well that’s on you.

It’s your money and your Bronco, so ultimately you do what you want to do, and all this free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.

If you want the easy option just sell the compressor you got and buy the updated one?

 

[Draughon]

Point taken!

I def DON'T want to do something that's wildy unsafe, so back to wiring things up for a quick connector mounted in the front of the vehicle.

So here's what we're looking at?

Battery --> 6ga positive wire --> 100amp fuse ---> 100amp switch ---> quick connector

quick connector --> splice in 6ga wire close to compressor --> compressor

Well.

I think most of us (some from experience) are trying to make it bulletproof - knowing that these Broncos go over the river and through the woods. No one here is giving bad advice - there may be different opinions, but I don’t think following any of it would burn down your Bronco.

Thor only has to replace his air compressor if it fails under warranty. If it happens to also burn down your Bronco - well that’s on you.

It’s your money and your Bronco, so ultimately you do what you want to do, and all this free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.

If you want the easy option just sell the compressor you got and buy the updated one?

 

[Area51BS]

As a suggestion. Use ferrules on all wires held down by set screws. Much better connection than a screw directly into multi strand wire.

 

[Callelk]

My wiring rule of thumb. If the mfg says 16ga, I go no thinner than 14 ga. They may test inches from thier power source, but I don't install inches from my power source. If a mfg calls for a 10 amp fuse, I install a 7.5 amp. Heavier wire and smaller fuses seem to somehow always work for me.

Additionally, I always solder and crimp heavy gauge wire, use liquid elec tape and shrink wrap so I never worry about it..

 

[Brian_B]

Point taken!

I def DON'T want to do something that's wildy unsafe, so back to wiring things up for a quick connector mounted in the front of the vehicle.

So here's what we're looking at?

Battery --> 6ga positive wire --> 100amp fuse ---> 100amp switch ---> quick connector

quick connector --> splice in 6ga wire close to compressor --> compressor

That’ll work! Make sure the quick connect is rated for 100A too.

 

[Draughon]

They’re saying the Anderson connector is rated at 120amps - but not sure what happens if things go over? It blows? Or just melts….

That’ll work! Make sure the quick connect is rated for 100A too.

 

[DuneRunner]

They’re saying the Anderson connector is rated at 120amps - but not sure what happens if things go over? It blows? Or just melts….

Bad things happen

 

[Brian_B]

They’re saying the Anderson connector is rated at 120amps - but not sure what happens if things go over? It blows? Or just melts….

Melts.

But that's why you have a fuse before the connector, and it's oversized for your expected amp draw.

 

[SierraBronco]

Bad things happen

**shudders**

That’s when your halon 1211 extinguisher comes in useful.

 

[SierraBronco]

Melts.

But that's why you have a fuse before the connector, and it's oversized for your expected amp draw.

To be clear-the connector is oversized for your amp draw. The fuse you’d want undersized, if anything, to protect from the above happening.

 

[SierraBronco]

My wiring rule of thumb. If the mfg says 16ga, I go no thinner than 14 ga. They may test inches from thier power source, but I don't install inches from my power source. If a mfg calls for a 10 amp fuse, I install a 7.5 amp. Heavier wire and smaller fuses seem to somehow always work for me.

Additionally, I always solder and crimp heavy gauge wire, use liquid elec tape and shrink wrap so I never worry about it..

I keep finding mixed opinions on soldering connections. No idea what to believe. But I can say that double hexagonal crimps are legit. Did a pull test with wifey using vise grips and we could not get that thing apart.

Really like that rule of thumb

 

[Rydfree]

FFS this is getting complicated!

Thor's Lightning is advertising that their electrical connections are 8' long with that smaller gauge wire and the anderson connector built in. No in line fuses..

My dumb ass here was thinking "great - why can't 2-3 feet go from the battery to the front grill / bumper, and the other 5 feet go to the compressor with a quick connect in between"

Seemed to be as simple as that - now we're talking re-wiring the compressor with heavier gauge wire or making multiple connection points for relays, fuses, distribution blocks....

The setup shown in that Thor pic is fine for a quick hook up to the battery.

To be clear-the connector is oversized for your amp draw. The fuse you’d want undersized, if anything, to protect from the above happening.

^^ Yes , NEVER install a over sized fuse for the wire you are using !

 

[RHeinz]

https://www.bluesea.com/support/art...oosing_the_Correct_Wire_Size_for_a_DC_Circuit

Sponsored