Please help me identify this burnt piece

[Zip112]

This piece was connected to the wiring for a small 12 volt heater inside a tractor cab. I'm guessing it's a fuse, but I'm not positive. I can't read the numbers on the back side because there is burnt plastic covering all of the numbers except the first 2, which is "22". The front side only says "3M".

If it is a fuse, is there any way I could go about replacing it, without knowing the exact specs for the fuse?

The 3rd picture is after I pried off the cover that says "3M".

Thanks!

 

[davenn]

looks just like the 1000's of silicone gel filled crimp connectors I have used over the years

https://trailerpartssupplies.com/wire-and-cable/2336-3-wire-silicone-crimp-connector.html


Dave

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

Looks like a plug, or relay to me.
How many wires were coming from it?

 

[davenn]

Looks like a plug, or relay to me.
How many wires were coming from it?

.look at my link
it is what it is

 

[Zip112]

Davenn: Thanks a lot! A simple connector was my 2nd guess, but I had the assumption it was a fuse because the person asking me for help with it said it was a fuse. It definitely looks just like the piece in that link you posted.

Tha fios: I haven't discerned yet how many wires were coming out of it, because everything in the area was so burnt up, including with wires melted together.

If it is a simple crimp connector, would you guys guess everything got burned up because of a simple short?

 

[Zip112]

Sorry about all the attached images. I didn't realize they were getting attached, so I ended up posting an external link. The attached images weren't showing up on the preview either.

 

[davenn]

Tha fios: I haven't discerned yet how many wires were coming out of it, because everything in the area was so burnt up, including with wires melted together.

its a 3 wire connector

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

Beat me to it

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

Hopefully you have a diagram you can follow.
You might be able to cut off the burnt portion of the wires and resplice where that splitter connection was.

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

Those are garbage imo. Use Sta-kon lugs or similar.

 

[Zip112]

Hopefully you have a diagram you can follow.
You might be able to cut off the burnt portion of the wires and resplice where that splitter connection was.

Thanks. I'm guessing it'll be simple to figure out once I cut out the burnt portions. There are 2 devices hooked up to a 12v battery: the heater and the windshield wipers.

I'll probably just use some simple wire nuts with electrical tape over them. The inside of the cab never gets wet.

 

[davenn]

Those are garbage imo.

have never had any problem with them, 10's of 1000's of them doing telecoms cable jointing

the problem comes when they are used when they shouldn't be, in higher current situations as the OP's use suggests
the multiple amps to power a heater should never be put through this style of connector

 

[davenn]

There are 2 devices hooked up to a 12v battery: the heater and the windshield wipers.

as in my last post ... I was typing when you posted

DONT use these type of connectors in this situation

 

[Martaine2005]

That image 1035 looks just like a good find of pound coins with my metal detector!

Martin

 

[Zip112]

as in my last post ... I was typing when you posted

DONT use these type of connectors in this situation

This is great info. Thanks.

Since it looks like the connector was the main source of the "explosion", do you think it's more likely that the connector was the cause of the failure? Or is it possible that there just happened to be a short near the connector?

 

[Martaine2005]

I'll have my 10 cents worth here..
No, it is just a connecter. Likely to be a short a long the line somewhere.
Unless it was completely over loaded. I have never seen one like that for telecom use.

Martin

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

Use these, with a screw and nut thru the 3 holes. Then insulate with a liberal amount of good quality electrical tape

 

[Martaine2005]

These are the proper connectors for vehicle use.

 

[Martaine2005]

Then insulate with a liberal amount of good quality electrical tape

Scares me when a qualified spark says that !

Martin

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

No, my money is on the cause being heat caused by the high resistance from that garbage connector.