Design & Materials
Wire Harness Design Input Checklist
A good harness input package shows the route, branches, connectors, terminals, labels, protection, wiring table, tests, and packing notes in one place. Missing branch or terminal data is what most often slows a harness RFQ.
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Decision summary
What to carry into the decision
- Control branch datums, connector orientation, wire identification, protection, and tie points in one layout.
- Link every circuit to the BOM and wiring table used for electrical checking.
- Show installed routing, service movement, and keep-out areas when they affect branch length or strain relief.
In this guide
- 1Direct answer
- 2Core checklist
- 3When a sample is the starting point
- 4Pair photos with build documents
- 5Harness drawing control table
- 6Common layout ambiguities
Use the sections in sequence, then turn the open items into one controlled build or sourcing package.
Direct answer
Send the harness drawing, BOM, connector and terminal list, branch dimensions, label requirements, routing protection, wiring table, and test method before requesting a build quote.
If a drawing is preliminary, mark each open item and identify which details are fixed for the sample quote.
Core checklist
Use this list before sending a new harness RFQ.
- Harness drawing with branch length, connector orientation, tie points, bend areas, and tolerance notes.
- BOM with wire type, gauge, color, terminal, housing, seal, sleeve, heat shrink, tape, and label items.
- Wiring table or pinout with circuit identification, shield termination, grounding, and polarity notes.
- Test method, fixture requirement, pass/fail limits, inspection criteria, packing, and records.
When a sample is the starting point
Marked photos can help identify measured points, connector orientation, and cable exit details. For repeat production, pair the sample with terminal data, wire type, and test criteria.
Pair photos with build documents
Harness layout photos can mark routing, branch dimensions, connector positions, and inspection points. Pair them with the drawing, BOM, wiring table, and test criteria used for quotation and repeat production.
Harness drawing control table
Relate each visible feature to the source that controls it.
| Electrical | Circuit ID, from-to connection, pinout, wire size, color or marking, and test expectation. |
|---|---|
| Mechanical | Branch length, breakout datum, connector orientation, bend area, and keep-out zone. |
| Protection | Sleeving, conduit, tape, heat-shrink, grommet, seal, and transition limits. |
| Identification | Connector, branch, circuit, warning, and package labels with location and format. |
Common layout ambiguities
Avoid chain dimensions without a governing datum, connector views without mating orientation, labels without location, and protection notes without start and stop points. Mark sample photos when a drawing view cannot show an installed route clearly.
