How are folks connecting to the under Hood / Bonnet Ext 1 & Ext 5 Wires?

[RJCali]

Hey all!

As the title says - how are people who've attached light bars or other accessories to these circuits actually making the solider or splice connection to the wire ends? There's such a tiny service loop, particularly on EXT 1! I'vt got some blade splice connectors but they're not watertight - I was thinking of using a heat shrink adhesive solder sleeve but that requires constraining the wires and getting a good amount of head down in that little area.

Is it just a 'swear into the engine' exercise in awkward movements and fiddly access or has anyone found a nice way of creating a working envelope to solder to them? Ext 5 isn't so bad, you can get the wire ends near to the top of the engine bay - but I want to keep that circuit for a higher power accessory in the future.

Appreciate the hints anyone can provide!

Cheers,

Reuben

 

[parb]

I crimped mine, and then put heatshrink tubing over. The kind of heatshrink tubing with glue inside of it so its completely watertight.

 

[TJ D]

Yes, adhesive lined shrink tube. But man, they could have given us a little more wire on those things! 2 inches to work with maybe, it would have been really nice to have enough there to be able to get the connectors on without standing on one's head working on those little stubby wires!

 

[parb]

Yes, adhesive lined shrink tube. But man, they could have given us a little more wire on those things! 2 inches to work with maybe, it would have been really nice to have enough there to be able to get the connectors on without standing on one's head working on those little stubby wires!

100% agree. Another 16 inches would have been so nice..

 

[RJCali]

Haha... well not the answers I hoped for but maybe the answers I expected. Thanks!

 

[TheDocAUS]

EXT1 is a 10 amp circuit and EXT5 a 25 amp circuit. You can use a Deutsch DT plug on EXT1 and a DTP plug on EXT5. Then just plug and play into the circuits, Lots of information on Deutsch plugs in this thread.

 

[parb]

Mine was bare wire under the hood, no plugs on them at all.

 

[DaveB]

Mine was bare wire under the hood, no plugs on them at all.

None of them have plugs.

 

[parb]

I wired up the baja lights from agile offroad to replace the stock offroad lights and i saw no point in having a plug for them. I'm just not very likely to take them out once they are in so a connector seems like a vaste. And its such a short wire, messing around with a connector in that cramped space would be no fun.

I used the EXT1 for my baja XL-R 80's. Amazing light!

 

[Auroran]

This is some great info. Reviving this a as a new LDH TrialMaster owner installing "ditch lights" for spotting critters at night. I've found EXT5 easily by the brake reservoir, but EXT1 remains illusive. I've looked about everywhere and even swore at the engine compartment as a last resort. I can use EXT5 if necessary. I have no immediate plans for any other high voltage electrical mods right now, and can modify that later if I eventually find EXT1. Either way, it'd still be good to start off correctly. Any other tips on finding EXT1 other than the dealer?

 

[TheDocAUS]

This is some great info. Reviving this a as a new LDH TrialMaster owner installing "ditch lights" for spotting critters at night. I've found EXT5 easily by the brake reservoir, but EXT1 remains illusive. I've looked about everywhere and even swore at the engine compartment as a last resort. I can use EXT5 if necessary. I have no immediate plans for any other high voltage electrical mods right now, and can modify that later if I eventually find EXT1. Either way, it'd still be good to start off correctly. Any other tips on finding EXT1 other than the dealer?

EXT 1 is normally near EXT 5. I read recently a post where one of the engine bay wire ends was inside the fender or some similar crazy location. I will try and find it.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Look here to see if you have the same issue:

F

Post in thread 'EXT 5 location'

Jul 19, 2025

Well after 3 visits to the dealer they finally located and extended for ‘free’ the ext 5 wire …

Can’t even see where it is and certainly required removing parts to find it

The 10 and 25 circuits are now at the same place

Photo of the area and somewhere down there is the other end

• FareGame

• 

That is a RHD car.