Multi-Pin Quick Connects

The wires should all be electrically isolated so I don't see why not. Just double check with a multi meter and you're good to go.

Thanks Lou!

-Greg

@Greg Houser posted:

A trailer wiring harness.  I love it.

John

Those are readily available and inexpensive. As was said above any wire can be wired to ground, or hot for that matter. By convention for trailer wiring the white is ground and the left side connector is usually the towing vehicle end, with the other (3 bare pins) being the trailer connector. This is done so that when no trailer is connected, none of the bare potentially hot pins can accidentally short to frame ground.

Rod

We use Anderson Power Poles for module wiring.  They latch together to build any number of conductors, have excellent conductivity, and will last longer than you will.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

We use Anderson Power Poles for module wiring.  They latch together to build any number of conductors, have excellent conductivity, and will last longer than you will.

These are great but I have never figured out how to get around the $44 crimper. At my use volume, it will take me the rest of my life to offset that thing. Are there cheaper crimper suggestions?

$44 is actually fairly cheap for a crimp tool, I don't know of a decent cheaper one.  The crimp tools I have trouble with are the $450 AMP tools for various connectors!

@hokie71 posted:

These are great but I have never figured out how to get around the $44 crimper. At my use volume, it will take me the rest of my life to offset that thing. Are there cheaper crimper suggestions?

They don't work well without the crimper plus they are kind of bulky if you gang four or more of them together.  Great for automotive work.   There are other alternatives:

https://www.allelectronics.com...ector-w/leads/1.html

https://www.mpja.com/4-Conduct...roductinfo/34578+PL/

John

@Craftech posted:

https://www.allelectronics.com...ector-w/leads/1.html

Not even close to Anderson Power Poles!  I seriously doubt these with #22 wire and their small contacts would be anywhere close to the current carrying capacity most folks need for their bus wiring!  Also, you have to keep in mind the reliability factor, PowerPoles will outlast most connectors, especially for stuff like modular layouts that are connected/disconnected many times.

In this case, you get what you pay for.  With the AllElectronics connector, you're paying for a cheap connector with a limited insertion life. With the Power Poles you're paying for a brand name with a much greater insertion count and current capacity far in excess of what is needed on a model railroad.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Not even close to Anderson Power Poles!  I seriously doubt these with #22 wire and their small contacts would be anywhere close to the current carrying capacity most folks need for their bus wiring!  Also, you have to keep in mind the reliability factor, PowerPoles will outlast most connectors, especially for stuff like modular layouts that are connected/disconnected many times.

In this case, you get what you pay for.  With the AllElectronics connector, you're paying for a cheap connector with a limited insertion life. With the Power Poles you're paying for a brand name with a much greater insertion count and current capacity far in excess of what is needed on a model railroad.

It was more the bulk.  There are lots of multi-pin connectors that are thicker than #22.  That was just one example as well as the second one.  The trailer wiring harness in the OP is very strong as well.  I don't know how many pins he actually needs beyond 4.

John

Having used the typical trailer harness, that's another cheap connector option that I wouldn't trust long term for heavy use.  When I was towing my boat and ATV trailers regularly, I had to replace the connectors twice in a few years, the typical trailer connector doesn't seem suited for heavy use.

Truthfully, any connector you buy for a peanuts is likely to be a sub-standard connector, the nature of the beast.

I'm not going to try to convince you any further, I'll keep using what I use and you keep using what you use.