What Is a Wiring Harness?
A wiring harness is a system of customized bundling that is designed to organize wires and cables. This allows for more efficient installation and reduces the chance of human error.
The outer coverings of the wiring harness protect it from moisture, dust and friction. It can also contain fuses, which are devices that prevent power surges.
Saves Time in Manufacturing
Many complex electrical systems feature wiring harnesses that contain a virtual labyrinth of wire configurations, connectors and splices. These wires are bound together to protect them against environmental factors such as moisture, abrasions and friction. They are also bundled to optimize space and minimize the risk of a short circuit. In addition, they are insulated with protective materials to prevent fires and other safety hazards.
Once the design process is complete, a prototype of the harness can be built to test its functionality and identify any potential problems that need to be addressed before mass production begins. This allows manufacturers to meet tight deadlines, rigorous quality requirements and minimize production costs without sacrificing product quality or functionality.
On the shop floor, skilled technicians use a variety of methods to organize wires and cables into an easy-to-read bundle. They will typically color-code the individual wires and mounts to distinguish them from one another. In addition, they will carefully examine all of the splices and connections for quality, as well as label each component for future reference.
However, this manual process is often time-consuming and prone to errors. As a result, a single misstep can derail an entire line of production and lead to missed program delivery dates, delayed freight costs, and increased maintenance expenses down the road. Fortunately, advanced wire harness solutions can automate much of this work. This reduces the amount of manual error, saves labor and equipment costs, and increases the overall quality of the finished product.
Saves Money in Manufacturing
Harness manufacturers have a few main sources of cost Wiring Harness variability in production and delivery: rework, obsolescence, premium freight, and manufacturing inefficiency (figure 1). Reducing or eliminating these sources saves millions of dollars each year for harness manufacturers.
The most common way to reduce cost is by minimizing complexity. This can be done by simplifying the wire harness design, using multi-function wires wherever possible, and optimizing the layout for a straightforward assembly process. It can also be achieved by reducing the number of components used in the harness, which reduces both material costs and assembly time.
Another important way to save money is to minimize the need for manual labor. Harness design software is available that can produce a BOM and an assembly cost estimate, as well as output the “from and to” list of the assembly for easier direct import into a tester. This eliminates the need for a dedicated test programmer, which can often cut testing time by more than half.
The final way to save money is by minimizing the use of expensive materials. Harness designers can do this by exploring alternative insulation materials and conductive metals that offer similar performance at lower costs. They can also reduce assembly time by designing a harness with features that make it easy to work on, such as color-coding or keying connectors to prevent misalignment.
Reduces Chance of Human Error
In manufacturing, stray wires can cause fire hazards, not to mention they are a huge nuisance. Wiring harnesses help keep factories safe by keeping wires organized and reducing the chance of them coming into contact with each other or other components that could cause a short circuit. They also help reduce installation time and make maintenance easier for technicians.
The wiring in a piece of equipment can consist of numerous strands that run from power sources to indicator lights, or from modules to cooling fans, and so on. If these were left to be plugged in wherever they fell, the result would be a massive rat’s nest of wiring that could easily be tripped over or snagged. Harnesses bind these wires into a bundle that can be dropped in where required, cutting down on assembly time and ensuring the connections are made properly.
Having the wires bundled into a harness means that they are more secure against vibration, abrasion and moisture. They can also be bound into a flame retardant material which helps reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Wiring harness design software tools can help to optimize the resulting layout and materials and reduce the risk of errors. This enables a more efficient flow and eliminates the need for manual data re-entry from MCAD systems, which in turn reduces TTM and recurring issues.
Reduces Risk of Damage
Keeping all wires organized can reduce the risk of damage in several ways. For one, it helps prevent tangled wiring, which is a common cause of failure for Single Row Led Light Bar electrical systems. It also helps reduce the chances of an accidental connection to a live wire, which can lead to a dangerous situation.
Wiring harnesses are designed to protect cables from vibration, dust, temperature fluctuations and other environmental factors that can damage them. They include outer coverings that help insulate the wires and protect them from other components in the system, which minimizes wear and tear. They also feature switches and transfer devices that help control current flow and activate devices. Additionally, fuses are used to break the circuit when current exceeds a set limit, protecting wires and other components from damage caused by excessive power surges.
Finally, wire harnesses help ensure that each wire is paired with the correct component. As a result, they are able to deliver efficient current flows and optimize performance. In addition, the cables in a wiring harness are arranged sensibly and can be easily accessed and manipulated, which is important for maintaining and servicing them. Despite the many benefits of using a wire harness, it is essential that manufacturers have a quality control process in place to verify their accuracy and consistency. This will help reduce the number of errors and improve overall product quality.
