Pre-Wiring Switches using Carling VCH Switch Housings

That looks like it will work and it even has the round crimp for the silicone seals. If you end up doing a Bussmann relay box those will come in handy.

From the photos the crimp areas look a little small, but it's advertised as working with metri-pack 280 so it should be fine. 630 and 280 terminals are about the same size, the tool I'm using works perfectly for both.

It appears to be a non-ratcheting tool whereas the one I'm using ratchets. The ratcheting just makes it a little easier, but a non-ratcheting tool should work just as well.

 

Ok thank you so much for answering my questions.

 

I may have missed this, but what size 630 terminal did you use when daisy-chaining (putting two wires in one terminal)? The 18-20 size seems like it'd be too small but I am unsure if the 14-16 size or 12 size would work best?

 

18-20 size 630 terminals work perfectly for chaining 20 ga. wire together. They do work for 18 ga but it's a little tight.

If you are using anything larger than 18 ga. wire you'll want larger terminals.

 

I'm sorry, I didn't clarify. I am using 18 ga wire. 14-16 size should work best then, based off your above statement?

 

Either 18-20 or 14-16 terminals will work.

I have used the 18-20 size terminals with 18 ga. wired chained together and it works fine, you just have to be a little more careful when crimping to make sure all the wire strands get into the crimp. It's a tight squeeze but it does work.

The 14-16 ga. terminals may work better, you'll have more margin for error when crimping.

 

Excellent, thank you! I just ordered plenty of each size from OTRATTW along with the housings.

 

Built my harness this afternoon thanks again for all the help.

 

Nice write up

 

Looks good!

Which of the terminals did you end up using?

 

All the wire is 18 gauge I got from local O'Reilly store. Used these with no issue
http://www.otrattw.net/Packard-630-Series-Terminal.html

OTRATTW part number:
12015869

 

Just ordered the stuff to do this!

 

Say your coming from an auxiliary fuse panel...would you run 6 separate 12v positives from the fuse panel to pin 2 instead of 1 wire ran in series between all switches?

 

Think I figured it out...if you run a single power supply in series then all six switches would be on one circuit. So if that circuits fuse blew all the switches would be dead. Instead I will run six individual 12V leads from a Blue Sea fuse panel giving each switch a fusible circuit.

 

Great write up. Just one addendum I think, if you are going to get your parts from WayTek, get a shipping price ahead of time and buy a lot. You will get robbed on shipping if you don’t, also buy a quantity they penalize you for small orders. I got stabbed for $45 to ship less than a pound, and that’s to CONUS, not Alaska!
I hope the quality is there, of course it is marine grade so hopefully that will be the case.
From now on I will likely go with some place that will ship with the post office. Ouch!

 

Great write up. I ordered my Metri Pack stuff from DelCity. https://m.delcity.net/store/Metri-P...kk8A_G5r7uFSnEe_mHXcLDuJtHMHihwBoCfmcQAvD_BwE

 

Tagged since I plan to daisy chain some switches in the next few months.

@Blackouts
Do you know if it’s safe to daisy chain the two dash dimming light wires to a whole set of switches? Also, the one “accessory on” fuse tap wire to the whole set?

 

the limit is on the wattage the rheostat can handle. I added about 8 or 9 switches and there’s been no issues. I can’t imagine the carling LEDs draw much current.