Seven-panel collage of a wiring harness being repaired and re-ta…

Pierce Splice
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This type of splice allows a circuit to be tapped without cutting the original wire. Any number of wires can be added, but the total current draw must not exceed the original (pierced) wire's capacity.

1. Expose the target wire enough for access all the way around.
2. Ring the insulation in 2 places ~4x the diameter of the splice wire apart, then slit between the rings & peel the insulation off. Strip the tip of the splice wire about the same distance for a solder splice, or 3x that for a twist splice.
3. Use a pick to divide the target wire's strands.
4. Insert the splice wire(s) in the gap and compress the target wire around it. For a twist splice: wrap the ends of the splice wire around the target and skip to 7.
5. Using a soldering iron of sufficient power for the wires' gauges, and rosin-core electrical solder, tin & splice the wires.
6. Ensure the splice is solid, and that all strands of both wires are tinned.
7. Tape securely over the splice and pull the target wire back into the harness.

This & the NEXT several show a large harness that was cut with a sawzall:



Other acceptable ways to splice wires include:

. . .

Owner caption March 2012 · Photo 4083 of 6546