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Electical Connections

Barrman

Well-known member
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Wow, talk about a post from the past. I have learned a lot in the past year.

The Douglas connectors use basically the same male end as the Packard style. The difference is the Douglas ones didn't have a female. Just a short little double ended female thing to connect the two males between the metal clam shells. So, yes that tool pictured will work with the Douglas wiring. (All references to male and female are referring to the metal pin on the end of the wire, not the rubber boot over the ends on the Packard style.)

Mine on the other hand has no more Douglas connectors anywhere. New M35A1 front harness and new M818 rear harness. Plenty of slack, wired for blinkers and all new wire sure are nice.
 

comdiver

New member
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Location
Buffalo NY
I don't think anyone ever did order the connectors and sell them to the group. I need some for a project that I am doing now and thinking about ordering a few hundred dollars worth and reselling what I don't need. Any interest? My thought is, selling 10 sets or so at a time. I would charge a little more than what they cost plus shipping. I have contacted the factory for current pricing. What gauge wire connectors do you need?
As for crimpers: the local Army Motor Pool is using Klein 1005 crimpers. The electrical supply house here sells them for $24. They also sell Buchannen, C24, crimpers which make the 4 indents for $55.
 

jasonjc

Well-known member
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Gravette Ar.
I make my living crimping wires together , So here is my $0.02. If you are going to spend the money on the right Packard connectors get the right crimpers for them. I see way too many connection fail from poor crimps by cheap tools, wrong tools or the wrong size connector for the wire. If you use the right tool with the right size connector soldering is not needed. The thing to look at/think about is crimping the wire in the connector. Not just mashing the connector to the wire. If mashing is all you want to do just use a hammer. The packard use 2-3 parts for each side if they are not crimped right the parts will not fit right and you just wasted time and $$. Plus the wire will pull out and you will have to do it again. 2cents
 

Michael

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Fulton, MS
Anybody know of a TM or other pdf that covers the tools and methods of repairing these and other electrical connectors?
 

Barrman

Well-known member
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Giddings, Texas
Look in the -20 for just about any vehicle and it tells you how to repair just about any connector and most of the switch attachments. At least the 1965 and older ones I have been studing in my spare time for the last month or so do. The -30P or -34P also show how everything comes apart in picture form. That really helps sometimes.
 

Michael

Active member
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Fulton, MS
Look in the -20 for just about any vehicle
The -20's I have looked in don't go into much detail on the tools. I was thinking more on the lines of the TM for an electricians tool kit or the training manual for electrician specialists.
 

nattieleather

Well-known member
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Location
Cleveland, OH
Tim stick with the Packard connectors. Your truck is going to live out side and be used for more than the occasional parad. The problem with duglas connectors is the metal shells end up rusting together and then that rust works it way into the wires. If you were going to restore the truck to all original then I'd say go with the correct connectors for the time period, but I know you are planning some mods to the truck and therefor for ease in the future I'd go with the Packards.
 

cranetruck

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Meadows of Dan, Virginia
jasonjc said:
.... If you are going to spend the money on the right Packard connectors get the right crimpers for them. I see way too many connection fail from poor crimps by cheap tools, wrong tools or the wrong size connector for the wire. If you use the right tool with the right size connector soldering is not needed.....
Amen to that.
 
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