The design and drafting of a wiring harness form the foundation of the entire process. Even minor errors at this stage can significantly impact the production and functionality of the final product. Below are some guidelines to navigate the drawing process and avoid such issues. These guidelines will assist you in recognizing the available wiring harness drawing options and devising solutions that closely align with the project’s requirements.
Environmental Considerations
The drawing and design of a cable harness are heavily reliant on various factors. However, one of the most significant determinants is the environment in which the harness will be utilized. Some harnesses may be exposed to extreme temperatures, water, chemicals, and oils. Additionally, the wire harness must possess flexibility to endure vibrations and abrasion.
Choosing the appropriate wire type is crucial during the drawing process. A minor mistake, such as selecting the wrong wire, can readily result in insulation failures. This can also pose safety risks and lead to non-compliance with regulatory standards for wire harness drawings, such as those set by CSA, UL, and CE.
Parts Considerations
A flawless harness drawing must incorporate the correct wire harness components. If you opt to use your unique part number during the drawing process, ensure you can communicate this to your partner for accurate cross-referencing with the manufacturer’s part numbers. If a particular part does not necessarily require a specific brand, it is crucial to indicate “or equivalent” on the drawing’s parts list. This allows the contract manufacturer to substitute the part with alternatives that could improve the wiring harness’s delivery, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Tolerance and Lengths
The harness drawing has to be very clear on the dimensions and tolerance. Here you can choose to measure starting from the front or rear.
Covering
Here, you have several options to consider, including split sleeves, braided loom tape, and conduit. Each of these has distinct functions, disadvantages, and advantages. It’s essential to understand each before deciding which one to include in the cable harness drawing. Additionally, remember that not all parts of the wire harness require covering.
Terminals, seals, and Connectors
The current market is abundant with various types of connectors, seals, and terminals. Consequently, it is straightforward to locate connectors that are compatible with the seals’ features, such as wire gauge, terminal plating, or wire insulation thickness.
Important to note in your harness drawing, is that some connectors may need additional parts for perfect terminal locking.
Labeling
When designing the wire harness drawing, the connectors must be easily identifiable through labeling. To accomplish this, include a note on the drawing. Additionally, you can incorporate the harness specification details within this note.
Finally
Achieving an exact balance of information on the cable harness drawing is nearly impossible. Providing too many details can make the drawing cluttered, error-prone, difficult to interpret, and challenging to maintain. Conversely, too little information can result in numerous questions about the harness drawing or inconsistent final products. To avoid such issues, it’s crucial to work closely with your contracted manufacturer. This collaboration will help you identify any discrepancies on your drawing and develop effective methods to revise and improve the issues, ultimately providing a better solution.
