Space and weight constraints, environmental regulations and increasingly complex system requirements are motivating new wiring harness products and versatile interconnect alternatives.
There are thousands of automotive wiring harnesses. Some modern vehicles contain nearly 40 different wire harnesses, as many as 700 connectors and more than 3,000 wires. Wiring harnesses made for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment used in construction, agriculture, and other off-road environments require additional changes.
In addition to maintaining weight, cost, and space while servicing a growing number of auxiliary components, wire harness manufacturers for heavy-duty applications face unique challenges. Heavy-duty vehicles are subjected to greater stress and strain than consumer vehicles, and require ultra-durable wiring and connectors. Regulations in the United States and around the world are constantly changing. As data- and signal-driven applications become more common, their thin wires — while beneficial for weight savings — present challenges in terms of durability.