How to Select Materials to Prevent Aging Problems in Auto Low Voltage Wiring Harnesses
I. Basic Structure of Automotive Low-Voltage Wire Harnesses
A low‑voltage wire harness relies on the combination of various components to ensure stable transmission of electrical power and signals. Only by fully understanding the harness construction can we precisely locate aging failure points and optimize material selection accordingly. The complete harness mainly consists of wires, connectors, terminals, sealing rings, wrapping tapes, fixing brackets, and other components.

According to the vehicle layout areas, low‑voltage harnesses are divided into branches such as engine harness, instrument panel harness, body harness, door harness, roof harness, and lamp harness. These harness branches are interconnected via connectors to form the complete vehicle electrical circuit.
1.1 Wire
The wire is the most basic carrier of current and signals, composed of a stranded copper conductor and an insulating layer. Its selection is determined by three key factors: wire type, wire gauge, and color.
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Wire type – Different types indicate different temperature resistance grades; common series include WA, WK, and WE. In areas such as the engine compartment where continuous high temperatures prevail, special high‑temperature‑resistant wire types must be used to avoid long‑term thermal aging.
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Wire gauge – The specification ranges from 0.35 mm² to 25.0 mm². The larger the gauge, the greater the current‑carrying capacity. Power supply circuits use larger‑gauge wires, while sensor signal circuits use smaller‑gauge wires.
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Color – With the large number of on‑board circuits, single‑color coding is insufficient to distinguish all circuits. The industry commonly uses two‑tone wires (primary color + secondary color) to expand coding. For example, red as the primary color combined with black, white, yellow, or blue as the secondary color forms designations such as R/B, R/W, R/Y, etc. Each color combination corresponds to an independent circuit, facilitating production assembly and later maintenance identification.
1.2 Connector
1.3 Terminal
- Plug-in Terminals: Equipped with elastic metal pins/sockets and matched plastic housings to form plugs and sockets for repeated mating. Widely used in circuits for vehicle lamps, instruments and on-board motors, supporting waterproof and anti-vibration design.
- Spade Terminals: Flat metal shims applicable to low-voltage high-current scenarios for positions without frequent disassembly, commonly used for relays, switches and harness branch connections.

- Bare Terminals: All-metal crimp terminals without insulation sleeves, fastened by bolts. Used for main power supply circuits, equipment grounding and other high-power loops with high connection strength. Anti-short-circuit protection is required for exposed metal parts.

- Closed Crimp Terminals: Complete outer insulation housing with inner metal sleeves, suitable for multi-wire splicing and indoor interior wiring. They feature excellent insulation performance, but are not applicable to high-current main circuits.

1.4 Wrapping & Protective Materials

1.5 Sealing Accessories (Sealing Rings / Waterproof Plugs)


II. Primary Causes Accelerating Aging of Low-Voltage Harnesses for Special Vehicles
- Thermal Aging: Continuous radiant heat from engines in compartments hardens and cracks insulating materials under prolonged high temperature.
- Medium Corrosion: Engine oil, diesel oil, cleaning agents, salt water and acid & alkali mist erode wire outer jackets.
- Mechanical Stress Aging: Continuous vehicle vibration and friction between harnesses and sheet metal wear insulating layers.
- UV Aging: Ultraviolet rays from sunlight cause pulverization of plastic materials for special vehicles working outdoors.
- Water Vapor Oxidation: Condensed water vapor generated by temperature alternation leads to electrochemical corrosion of conductors and terminals, raising contact resistance and aggravating thermal aging.
III. Material Selection Standards for Anti-Aging of Core Components
3.1 Conductor & Wire Selection
Oxidation of conductors directly increases circuit resistance and heat generation, accelerating aging of the whole harness. Coating of conductors and stranded structure are key selection indicators.
| Conductor Type | General Application Scenarios | Preferred Anti-Aging Solution for Special Vehicles (Aichie Tech Standard) |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Copper Conductor | Indoor mild environment, short-term industrial equipment | ❌ Not recommended for long-term use on special vehicles; vulnerable to oxidation and blackening |
| Tinned Copper Conductor | Dry interior harnesses, slightly humid environment | ✅ Standard configuration for interior low-voltage harnesses for basic anti-oxidation requirements |
| Nickel-plated / Silver-plated Copper Conductor | Sustained high-temperature areas in engine compartments, wiring close to heat sources | ✅ Top choice for high-temperature special working conditions to resist long-term high-temperature oxidation |
3.2 Insulation Material (Core Link to Slow Down Aging)
| Insulation Material | Continuous Operating Temperature Range | Advantages, Disadvantages & Aging Risks | Recommended Layout Areas for Special Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC | -40℃ ~ 85℃ | Low cost; poor high temperature resistance and oil resistance, prone to hardening and cracking under prolonged heating | Only limited to dry interior areas; prohibited for chassis and engine compartments |
| XLPE | -50℃ ~ 125℃ | Excellent heat resistance, hydrolysis resistance and weather resistance, resistant to ordinary mineral oil | Low-voltage main harness on chassis, outdoor wiring areas |
| TPE | -50℃ ~ 105℃ | Outstanding flexibility and wear resistance; regular grades have insufficient diesel resistance | Movable harnesses requiring continuous movement and frequent bending |
| TPU | -45℃ ~ 110℃ | Superior wear resistance, hydrolysis resistance and weak acid & alkali resistance; not suitable for long-term high temperature | Exposed friction-prone positions, harnesses for wading special vehicles |
| FEP/PTFE | -60℃ ~ 200℃ | Premium high temperature resistance, resistant to various oil and chemical media, best anti-aging performance; relatively high cost | Areas surrounding engines and wiring close to heat sources |
3.3 Material Selection for Outer Sheath / Wrapping Protection
The insulation layer of a single wire alone cannot withstand external abrasion and sunlight exposure; the choice of outer protective material determines the overall service life of the harness:
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Nylon corrugated tube (PA6/PA12): First choice for special‑vehicle chassis harnesses. PA12 offers low‑temperature resistance and oil resistance; with added UV stabilizers, it is suitable for outdoor routing. Standard PA6 is cost‑effective and fits engine‑compartment areas without long‑term sun exposure.
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Braided sleeving (PET / aramid fiber): Used at harness bending points and areas contacting sheet metal to prevent direct friction from cutting the insulation layer. Aramid braiding also provides abrasion and flame‑retardant properties.
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Heat‑shrink tubing: For terminal joints, always use dual‑wall adhesive‑lined heat‑shrink tubing, which relies on hot‑melt adhesive to completely seal out moisture. Ordinary single‑wall tubing has insufficient sealing capability and can allow water ingress over time, leading to terminal corrosion and aging.
3.4 Material Selection for Connectors, Terminals, and Seals
Many harness failures that appear to be wire aging actually originate from joint corrosion. Therefore, the joint system selection must focus on anti‑corrosion and sealing performance:
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Terminal plating: Tin plating is adequate for basic conditions; for high‑humidity and high‑vibration special applications, gold‑plated terminals are preferred for long‑term oxidation and corrosion resistance.
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Connector housing: Choose PA66 + glass‑fiber housings with UV stabilizers; ordinary ABS plastic is prone to cracking and failure under prolonged outdoor exposure.
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Sealing structure: For connectors on the chassis, exterior lamps, and wading areas, the waterproof rating must reach IP67 or higher, with weather‑resistant silicone sealing rings to block moisture ingress.
IV. Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Harness Material Selection (to Prevent Rapid Aging)
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Do not rely solely on short‑term temperature ratings – always verify long‑term thermal aging performance. Many low‑cost materials meet short‑term temperature specifications but become brittle rapidly after hundreds of hours of continuous high‑temperature exposure. For special‑vehicle harnesses, priority should be given to automotive‑grade wires that have passed long‑term thermal cycling tests; general industrial wires must never be used as substitutes for on‑vehicle cables.
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Distinguish between resistance to mineral oil, biodiesel, and cleaning solvents. Engineering special vehicles often come into contact with diesel, de‑icing fluids, and industrial cleaners. Ordinary TPE materials will swell and crack upon contact with oils. Before procurement, require suppliers to provide a complete immersion test report for chemical resistance.
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Outdoor harness materials must include UV‑modified formulations. PE and PVC materials without UV stabilizers will experience chalking and cracking within 3 to 12 months of outdoor use. All exposed harness sheaths, corrugated tubes, and insulated wires must explicitly specify UV‑resistant formulations.
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The marking ink on wires also needs to be evaluated for aging resistance. Ordinary screen‑printed markings tend to fade after prolonged heat and sunlight exposure, making circuits unidentifiable during later maintenance. Laser marking or weather‑resistant ink is preferred for circuit identification.
V. Practical Material Selection Practices and Solutions for Special‑Vehicle Harnesses by Aichie Tech
As a custom harness manufacturer that holds IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UL, CE, RoHS, and ISO 13485 certifications, along with multiple invention and utility‑model patents, Guangdong Aichie Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Co., Ltd. (Aichie Tech) strictly follows the IPC‑A‑620 international harness process standard and has established a standardized material selection system targeting the aging pain points of special‑vehicle harnesses.
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Zone‑based customized solutions: Differentiate wire types and protective structures according to engine compartment / chassis / interior / outdoor exposed areas, rejecting a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
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Comprehensive validation system: Finished harnesses undergo continuity, salt spray, thermal cycling, and simulated vibration aging tests, achieving zero failure rate after 1 million operating cycles under harsh conditions.
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Efficient delivery support: Sample lead time for new projects is 3–7 days; mass‑production order delivery is reliably controlled within 2–6 weeks, while supporting special‑vehicle manufacturers in new project development and validation.
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Value‑added technical services: We provide reverse failure analysis for aging harnesses and optimize material solutions accordingly. Our current repurchase rate among special‑vehicle OEM customers reaches 90%.






















