I keep needing to buy a variety of car/motorbike electrical connectors - the
kind of N-way crimp connectors used for wiring up auxiliary circuits, often
with weirdly shaped plastic housings.

Ordinarily I'd go to the usual suspects of Farnell or RS for electronic
components, but these seem to be a bit different. Often they aren't
covered - perhaps because they're often made by different manufacturers (not
the usual Molex/TE/Samtec/FCI/Tyco/etc, maybe from Japan/China/etc
manufacturers)

Shops like EuroCarParts are useless because they tie everything to vehicle
reg - no use going there saying 'I want a 7-pole connector that looks like
this'. Likewise local car parts shops don't carry useful stock.

There's a few ebay stores that sell them in ones and twos for no doubt
large markups, which leads me to deduce they must have a supplier they buy
them from - I doubt they buy in the thousands from the manufacturer direct.
They must be getting from a wholesaler - who probably have a better range at
lower prices (witness all the Farnell bits that turn up on Amazon with some
ludicrous markup).

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

Thanks
Theo

Theo wrote:

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

I have nothing to add, but I want to know the answer to this too!

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

On 13/12/2016 21:34, Scott M wrote:
Theo wrote:

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

I have nothing to add, but I want to know the answer to this too!

these type ??
http://www.rexs-speedshop.com/epages...ese_Connectors

On 12/13/2016 9:34 PM, Scott M wrote:
Theo wrote:

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

I have nothing to add, but I want to know the answer to this too!

Me too. I want to make up a "special" to link into the aux power
connector of my Renault Master Van, local Renault main agent claim to
have searched all their systems and that no mating part exists.

On 13/12/16 20:58, Theo wrote:
I keep needing to buy a variety of car/motorbike electrical connectors - the
kind of N-way crimp connectors used for wiring up auxiliary circuits, often
with weirdly shaped plastic housings.

Ordinarily I'd go to the usual suspects of Farnell or RS for electronic
components, but these seem to be a bit different. Often they aren't
covered - perhaps because they're often made by different manufacturers (not
the usual Molex/TE/Samtec/FCI/Tyco/etc, maybe from Japan/China/etc
manufacturers)

Shops like EuroCarParts are useless because they tie everything to vehicle
reg - no use going there saying 'I want a 7-pole connector that looks like
this'. Likewise local car parts shops don't carry useful stock.

There's a few ebay stores that sell them in ones and twos for no doubt
large markups, which leads me to deduce they must have a supplier they buy
them from - I doubt they buy in the thousands from the manufacturer direct.
They must be getting from a wholesaler - who probably have a better range at
lower prices (witness all the Farnell bits that turn up on Amazon with some
ludicrous markup).

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

Thanks
Theo

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/ ?

On 13-Dec-16 8:58 PM, Theo wrote:
I keep needing to buy a variety of car/motorbike electrical connectors - the
kind of N-way crimp connectors used for wiring up auxiliary circuits, often
with weirdly shaped plastic housings.

Ordinarily I'd go to the usual suspects of Farnell or RS for electronic
components, but these seem to be a bit different. Often they aren't
covered - perhaps because they're often made by different manufacturers (not
the usual Molex/TE/Samtec/FCI/Tyco/etc, maybe from Japan/China/etc
manufacturers)

Shops like EuroCarParts are useless because they tie everything to vehicle
reg - no use going there saying 'I want a 7-pole connector that looks like
this'. Likewise local car parts shops don't carry useful stock.

There's a few ebay stores that sell them in ones and twos for no doubt
large markups, which leads me to deduce they must have a supplier they buy
them from - I doubt they buy in the thousands from the manufacturer direct.
They must be getting from a wholesaler - who probably have a better range at
lower prices (witness all the Farnell bits that turn up on Amazon with some
ludicrous markup).

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

Thanks
Theo


My search terms were
"vehicle electrical supplies"

RS
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/connec...ve-connectors/

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.u.../39/category/7

http://www.iem-services.co.uk/search...AL+OFFER%21%2A

If you want some really high grade stuff.
http://www.fischerconnectors.com/uk/...fXAaAkIP8P8HAQ

In uk.d-i-y Peter Hill wrote:
My search terms were
"vehicle electrical supplies"

There's lots of two-bit e-shops that Google brings up that sell a small
range of common connectors, but it's easy to run out of road quite rapidly.

For instance, my current test list includes:
Harley 7-pin throttle-by-wire connector, aka TE/AMP Mini Multilock, stocked by RS:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-connector-housings/7122365/?origin=PSF_435697|rel
(plus pins)

Sumitomo 3-pin throttle connector:
https://www.ttiinc.com/content/ttiin...tti-sitemap-ga
(various ebay sources)

120 amp Anderson connectors
http://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/p...ts/sb-120.aspx

Assorted Chinese white plastic connectors (exact names unknown):
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2-IAAO...PM/s-l1600.jpg


These are just examples, next time it'll be a different list.
Some of these are widely available, some aren't.
I've not found anywhere near a one-stop-shop.

The trouble with buying from multiple e-shops is the postage starts to mount
up rapidly. For instance, in the first case the only UK supplier is RS who
force me to buy 5, which works out at about 17 quid [1]. I could buy one from the
US or from Germany, but after postage it works out about the same. Imagine
this repeated over lots of connectors - it soon gets silly.

Hence the wish to buy from someone with a wider range.

(That said, I should probably stare at what RS have in more detail: pity
there's no sensible classification)

Theo

[1] RS' stupid MOQ rules are one reason they're ordinarily a last resort for
me

In article ,
Theo wrote:
I keep needing to buy a variety of car/motorbike electrical connectors -
the kind of N-way crimp connectors used for wiring up auxiliary
circuits, often with weirdly shaped plastic housings.

Ordinarily I'd go to the usual suspects of Farnell or RS for electronic
components, but these seem to be a bit different. Often they aren't
covered - perhaps because they're often made by different manufacturers
(not the usual Molex/TE/Samtec/FCI/Tyco/etc, maybe from Japan/China/etc
manufacturers)

Shops like EuroCarParts are useless because they tie everything to
vehicle reg - no use going there saying 'I want a 7-pole connector that
looks like this'. Likewise local car parts shops don't carry useful
stock.

There's a few ebay stores that sell them in ones and twos for no doubt
large markups, which leads me to deduce they must have a supplier they
buy them from - I doubt they buy in the thousands from the manufacturer
direct. They must be getting from a wholesaler - who probably have a
better range at lower prices (witness all the Farnell bits that turn up
on Amazon with some ludicrous markup).

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

There are loads of them. Not all stock everything.
My favourite is Vehicle Wiring Products. Not the cheapest but very good
service.

Google on vehicle wiring for some more.

Lots of car connectors are specific to that make or model. Although made
by the usual suspects. Those that are shared can usually be obtained, as
can those that are needed when using proprietary bits in say a kit car.
Things like the connectors for EDIS, for example. But as I said others may
be exclusive to a maker. The only real way to get them is from a used
loom. Luckily new terminals can usually be obtained - it's just the
housing which is a special. Sadly you might have to try a dozen companies
to find what you want. Google is no help for this sort of thing.

--
*Women who seek to be equal to men lack ambition.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Theo wrote:
These are just examples, next time it'll be a different list.
Some of these are widely available, some aren't.
I've not found anywhere near a one-stop-shop.

If you find one, let me know.

Take the connector which is common for things like injectors and sensors.
The Junior Timer. Easy enough, you'd say - provided you just want black.
But they are made in a variety of colours for identification purposes. I
ended up sourcing four different colours from four different suppliers.

It's the same with wire. No one place I've found stocks the entire range
of colours with tracer colours.

--
*Work is for people who don't know how to fish.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Chris Bartram wrote:

Theo wrote:

what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/ ?

I've also used this lot

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/electrical-components.html

On 13/12/2016 23:31, Theo wrote:
UK supplier is RS who
force me to buy 5, which works out at about 17 quid

I have been in this situation with other items, I buy best deal for
small amount, use what I need and sell the surplus on ebay. In many
instances I have gained from this so effectively got what I need for
zero £s.

If you only want a couple of something then chances are so do others so
they will usually sell on ebay.

One example, I needed an item that would have cost £4-5 in the UK,
sourced on ebay (from china) 25 of the items for £1.99 with free postage.
I sold the other 24 at £3 each and made probably about £40 net after
postage/fees etc.

On Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:36:34 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

It's the same with wire. No one place I've found stocks the entire range
of colours with tracer colours.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.e...core-pvc-cable

circa 11 solid colours and 42 with a tracer in 1mm2

In article ,
The Other Mike wrote:
On Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:36:34 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

It's the same with wire. No one place I've found stocks the entire range
of colours with tracer colours.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.e...core-pvc-cable

circa 11 solid colours and 42 with a tracer in 1mm2

Yup. But not the entire range. And only in some sizes.

--
*I have a degree in liberal arts -- do you want fries with that

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Scott M wrote:
Theo wrote:

So what's the Farnell or TLC of car/bike electrical bits?

I have nothing to add, but I want to know the answer to this too!

beal.org.uk possibly.

--
Chris Green
·

In uk.d-i-y newshound wrote:
On 12/13/2016 9:34 PM, Scott M wrote:
I have nothing to add, but I want to know the answer to this too!

Me too. I want to make up a "special" to link into the aux power
connector of my Renault Master Van, local Renault main agent claim to
have searched all their systems and that no mating part exists.

To cut a long story short, since this time I'm looking for Japanese
motorbike bits, I've just put an order in to http://www.cycleterminal.com/
which was the only place that had all the bits I wanted.

It's in the US, which is a big pain because it adds on a couple of weeks
(maybe more at this time of year) and risks getting held up for import fees.
But some of the parts were unobtainable anywhere else.

Theo

On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 11:31:49 PM UTC, Theo wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Peter Hill wrote:
My search terms were
"vehicle electrical supplies"

There's lots of two-bit e-shops that Google brings up that sell a small
range of common connectors, but it's easy to run out of road quite rapidly.

For instance, my current test list includes:
Harley 7-pin throttle-by-wire connector, aka TE/AMP Mini Multilock, stocked by RS:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-connector-housings/7122365/?origin=PSF_435697|rel
(plus pins)

Neighbour has a modern Harley, even he is less than chuffed at the interesting mix of AF and metric fasteners used by the factory.


Sumitomo 3-pin throttle connector:
https://www.ttiinc.com/content/ttiin...tti-sitemap-ga
(various ebay sources)

120 amp Anderson connectors
http://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/p...ts/sb-120.aspx

Torberry are UK supplier of Anderson

https://www.torberry.co.uk/


Assorted Chinese white plastic connectors (exact names unknown):
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2-IAAO...PM/s-l1600.jpg


These are just examples, next time it'll be a different list.
Some of these are widely available, some aren't.
I've not found anywhere near a one-stop-shop.

The trouble with buying from multiple e-shops is the postage starts to mount
up rapidly. For instance, in the first case the only UK supplier is RS who
force me to buy 5, which works out at about 17 quid [1]. I could buy one from the
US or from Germany, but after postage it works out about the same. Imagine
this repeated over lots of connectors - it soon gets silly.

Hence the wish to buy from someone with a wider range.

(That said, I should probably stare at what RS have in more detail: pity
there's no sensible classification)

Theo

[1] RS' stupid MOQ rules are one reason they're ordinarily a last resort for
me