How to extend this wire? Soldering question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: geekgeek4
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 05:00:21 am
content: Hello,I am trying to wire a dash cam to my car's fuse box and battery. For this, I needed to buy a Garming Parking Cable, which allows you to connect the camera to the battery. However, it was not long enough to run the cable from the front all the way to the back of the car. The dash cam came with a power USB cable (just 2 strands) to connect to a cigarette lighter socket, USB plug etc. I figured I could use this for extending the parking cable. However, when I cut the parking cable, I noticed it had two wires (a yellow and a red) wrapped in foil. External to the foil was just bare metal wire wrapped around the foil Images below.I have a couple images attached. One of them shows the USB power cable.I bundled together the wire that was surrounding the red wire for the USB Power Cable. The other wire is embedded within the red insulation.The Parking Cable was wrapped in foil as you can see. I removed it. The bare wire that was similarly wrapped around the tin foil and wires underneath, is twisted together. The other white colored strand is a string.Not sure how to embed photos so I just attached them.How should I go about extending the parking cable?Edit* Can't add more photos. Here are the links:Parking Cable:https://ibb.co/Q6YcKVpPower USB Cable:https://ibb.co/R7hX0fBEdit* Sorry, thumbnail descriptions are mixed up. The Parking Cable and Power USB Cable images are according to above.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 05:34:16 am
content: Why not just cut the cable you are trying to lengthen and add a patch section? That will involve two splices but should take care of it.Cut the cable, strip the ends back somewhat more than necessary, then add a piece salvaged from another cable that has enough conductors. It doesn't even have to be the same type. When your two splices are complete, tape them up and you should be in business.

author: rernexy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 05:40:25 am
content: Quote from: geekgeek4 on December 31, 2020, 05:00:21 amExtend the parking cable by adding more wire to the ends with the labels ("ACC", "GND", "BATT").You can connect more wire either by:1. directly soldering2. crimping with cable joiners (https://www.narva.com.au/products/56054BL)3. solder splices (https://www.narva.com.au/products/56380BL)4. crimping with a quick splice connector (https://www.jaycar.com.au/red-quick-splice-connector-22-18awg-pk6/p/PT4537)Don't forget to fix the usb connector you cut off.What is not clear is why you are trying to run the cabling to thebackof the car. Is it because you have a vehicle with the battery installed at the back of the car? Are you trying to install the front dash cam at the back?

author: geekgeek4
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 06:10:10 am
content: Thanks everyone for the replies.I just wasn't certain because of the foil, the yellow cable, the red cable, and then the bare metal wire surrounding it.Can you correct me if I'm wrong but.1. The foil does not matter. I can just strip it away without a problem occurring, right. No interconnection needs to be made with the foil.2. For the outer, bare metal wire, I just bundle it together and then solder it to some other cable/bundle? Is there any significance in it being on the outside, no insulation, and wrapped around the wires/tin foil? The extension cable can be insulated and not surrounding the cables underneath, right? This of course means that the bare metal wire is essential and not unnecessary.3. For the red and yellow cables, as already mentioned, its just a connection to the other cables extension cables.Just to emphasize, it is mainly the foil and outer bare wire that was confusing me. I should have made that more clear in my post.And to answer your question, the fuse box and battery is in the trunk. I am mounting the dash cam in the front, and so it needs to go all the way to the back.Thanks again.

author: rernexy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 06:24:57 am
content: Quote from: geekgeek4 on December 31, 2020, 06:10:10 amThat foil is ground (GND). It would connect to the metal shell of the usb connector you cut off, so it does matter.

author: geekgeek4
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 06:29:54 am
content: But isnt that what the bare metal wire is doing? Minus the foil, there are 3 cables, red, yellow, and bare metal wire. The bare metal wire is in contact with the foil. Would the foil still be significant considering this?

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 06:35:08 am
content: The foil is acting as a screen and the bare metal wire is used to solder so that the continuity exists to the ground connection. So, in short, you need not try to solder the screen/foil as long as the bare metal wire is soldered on.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 06:44:10 am
content: cheap dash/rear/reverse cam is:1) black or exposed wire = GND2) RED = 12V (BATT or ACC, preferable ACC, or tap reverse lighting power in case of reverse camera)3) YELLOW = video signal (RCA) shared GND with (1)as Bob mentioned, why dont you just cut in the middle and add wire length to it connecting back all conductors, this will save you much of brain cells and time.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2020, 05:58:48 pm
content: Subject indicates that you are about to solder them cables.Make a steady connection.If it vibrates the lesser wire will eventually(can also be shortly) break from where the solder ends.