Replacing tail light

[Chad_Jen]

I am replacing the whole tail light on my camper because the license plate holder broke off of it. I have it taken off and have the wires ready to go back on but seem to not be able to crimp the wire nuts enough to make the wires stay put. I got the wire nuts at Lowe’s and it looked like they were the same ones I took off, but maybe not. Any suggestions?.

[facory]

If you can, solder and shrink wrap the connection.

[mhsmith]

I ended up buying a seperate plate holder to mount plate to. Got tired of replacing the whole assembly. Mounted it directly below light for night driving.

[GrandpaKip]

Yep, terminology can be important, whether construction, RV’s, boats, etc.

[wnjj]

GrandpaKip wrote:

wnjj wrote:

LVJJJ wrote:
since when do you crimp wire nuts? two separate devices for connecting wires.

I thought the same thing at first but remembered these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4WPZHP/ref=asc_df_B01N4WPZHP5488522/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&cre...

That’s not a wire nut. A wire nut has a coil for twisting. That is just a crimp fitting with a sleeve that has to be crimped. Would be a bad thing to confuse the two.

You’re right. They are what I pictured in my mind when the OP called them wire nuts and when you google for “crimp wire nut” those come up so I got what the OP was talking about. I see them called closed end crimp and crimp caps too which are probably better names.

[GrandpaKip]

wnjj wrote:

LVJJJ wrote:
since when do you crimp wire nuts? two separate devices for connecting wires.

I thought the same thing at first but remembered these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4WPZHP/ref=asc_df_B01N4WPZHP5488522/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&cre...

That’s not a wire nut. A wire nut has a coil for twisting. That is just a crimp fitting with a sleeve that has to be crimped. Would be a bad thing to confuse the two.

[wnjj]

LVJJJ wrote:
since when do you crimp wire nuts? two separate devices for connecting wires.

I thought the same thing at first but remembered these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4WPZHP/ref=asc_df_B01N4WPZHP5488522/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&cre...

[Dave5143]

I had to repair a loose connection in my brake light a couple of months ago. I used these . They are very easy to use and make a reliable connection. I keep a bunch of them in my toolbox for the next electrical repair.

[LVJJJ]

since when do you crimp wire nuts? two separate devices for connecting wires.

[CavemanCharlie]

I just put a little sealant on some short screws that have rubber washers around them and screwed the license plate right to the back of the camper.

[rbpru]

This does seem like complicating a simple problem. Twist wire nuts, add sealant and vinyl black tape. Or, crimp connectors and sealant.

I usually prefer twisting the wires, soldering, then taping over the connection.

The TT wiring makes use of insulation displacing connectors.

As suggested; take old connectors in when buying new to get replacements.

[enblethen]

It is best not to seal all the way across the bottom. If water does get in, opening on the bottom will allow it to drain out.

[enblethen]

It is a sealant. May not spelled correctly, Geoflex(?) Geocel
Used as sealant on RVs. It is similar to the Dicor non-leveling lap sealant.
I use the expensive Dicor products.

[Chad_Jen]

enblethen wrote:
Hopefully it is not normal silicone! If it is get it all off!
Use geotex type sealant.
Tailight should come with gasket!

What’s geotex sealant? The tape type stuff?

[enblethen]

Hopefully it is not normal silicone! If it is get it all off!
Use geotex type sealant.
Tailight should come with gasket!