FAQ's
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Mil-spec, and our products:
WHERE ARE YOUR PARTS SOURCED?
Our parts are source from a number of countries, we do everything in our power to avoid cheap, Chinese parts and products. Most of our parts, ranging from PDM's, to wire and heat shrink, is shipped direct from the USA, the cable sleeving from Germany, and all laser cutting is designed and cut here in western Sydney.
WHAT IS A PDM?
A PDM is a power distribution module, a very handy product that normally has 1 main input, and several smaller outputs. The advantage of this is less wiring direct from the battery terminal, compact, neat fuse installation, and in some cases, a waterproof rating. We use a lot of Littlefuse PDM's, they are a quality brand, with a great reputation for making quality products for the heavy transport, marine, agriculture fields.
WHY ARE YOUR PRE WIRED PRODUCTS SO EXPENSIVE? I CAN GET CHEAPER AT OTHER LED LIGHT SUPPLIERS
We use TEFZEL wire and Raychem heat shrink for all our prewired products. TEFZEL wire is very expensive, but perfectly suited to the 4x4 industry. Its light, thin, abrasion, oil, diesel, chemical, radiation resistant, and has an operating temperature of 150°c, and can withstand up to 300°c for certain amounts of time. Most other suppliers get their products made overseas, using imitation gear, hence, the price difference.
WHY DOES THE DMAX PDM INCLUDE THE DTP PASS THROUGH CONNECTOR, AND THE OTHERS DON'T?
The dmax/bt50 plates sit quite low in the engine bay, being so low, means some of the wiring may be both above, and below the plate, hence the idea of a simple pass-through connector. The ranger plates for example, sit quite high, so 99% of the wiring is below the plate, so a connector would be wasted space.
ARE YOU EVER GOING TO SELL MIL-SPEC WIRE?
Eventually yes, at this time the demand isn't quite there to justify the large investment of getting a bulk shipment from the USA over.
DO YOU HAVE PDM PLATES IN STOCK?
At the moment, all PDM plates and prewired products are built to order. The smaller prewired products, like switch gangs or extension harnesses, most of the gear is on site, ready to go. The larger, more expensive things, the parts are ordered the same day you place your order. Obviously the larger, and more well know we get, means we could start to stock the parts required.
WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE CANOPY BOARDS?
We ran into a design issue with the larger boards, just to do with the switches, once we do a little redesign, and possibly find some new style switches, they will be on track again. We're trying to avoid using standard carling rocker switches like everyone else, we want to make something unique, and push the design envelope.
WHY 90° LUGS EVEYWHERE?
90° lugs save a massive amount of space, which is at a premium in most 4x4's, considering the amount of aftermarket electrical equipment that get added. Most of our designs wouldn't work without them, as normal lugs take up too much space. Straight lugs do work in some instances, especially the smaller ones (10mm2 and below), but any larger, its 90° lugs.
WHEN WILL YOU MAKE PRODUCTS FOR XXXXXX VHEICLE?
The process happens a lot slower than some people like, were not a big company like ARB etc, so to get measurements or scans of most vehicles, we head to car dealerships on the weekend. This works great for new models, older models, not so much. If you have an older model vehicle, and want to measure up, we'd be happy to convert that to a CAD drawing, and get some gear cut for you!