Im tired of my spliced wires coming apart. Where can I get a soldering iron (gun, whatever its called) so that this wont happen, or is there another way to join the wires other than the electrical tape method Ive been using?? TIA

I saw an inexpensive one at Wal-Mart for like $5. I think Radio Shack and other places should have better ones as well.

man...you gotta get these things. i just discovered them recently and they work great. theyre called connectors or something. you twist your wire together right...then you just screw this plastic cap over it. the cap is lined with metal, kinda looks like a weird nut or something...its almost cone shaped...about half inch tall, quarter inch in diameter at the bottom...hollowed out and threaded...i was like whoa i am never using twisting and electrical tape again!

Originally posted by JJPhatStrat
man...you gotta get these things. i just discovered them recently and they work great. theyre called connectors or something. you twist your wire together right...then you just screw this plastic cap over it. the cap is lined with metal, kinda looks like a weird nut or something...its almost cone shaped...about half inch tall, quarter inch in diameter at the bottom...hollowed out and threaded...i was like whoa i am never using twisting and electrical tape again!

:nono These electrical connectors are for use in home electrical wiring and low to none vibration areas you would not want to use these in your car or any other area where there is frequent high vibration. Over time it will shake the connection loose and eventually the nut will fall off. The t-taps that come in 3 different colors/sizes red, blue, and yellow kick ASS. So does zip ties and self tapping drill point screws. The last 2 I just threw in there for no reason.:thumbsup

Soldering is a great skill to have! You will be surprised how many projects that will become handy once you learn.

You gotta use the right tool for the right job. If your putting wires together solder em!


John

LOLOL, it's like you guys just discovered aliens by finding out there are crimp connectors lol.

yes, i realize this was back in '02, but still.

Soldering is the best, but you can also use those twist connectors. They are shaped like a cone, and you put the wires into it from the bottom, then twist the whole thing, and it holds the wires together real well. There are also butt connectors that you can crimp, but you need the right gauge connector depending on the gauge of wire you are using.

if you are going to buy a soldering iron... spend some cash and get a good one. The cheap ones take 9 years to heat up and they generally piss me off. Also buy electrical solder as small of diameter as you can get. The thick stuff does NOT work at all.

Yep soldering is the best electrical connection, but you can also use things called T-taps. Basicly, its a crimp on connector that you put over the wire, crimp the two halves shut, then use a male spade connector and plug into the t-tap. There are 3 basic colors used for different guage wire. I use them alot, and as long as you use the proper color, it will be a fine substitute for soldering. You can use butt- connectors, but i personally don't like cutting any wire in half that i don't have to...

i use these little clear things with metal inside it. kinda hard to explain. they kinda are like the screw on things you guys were talking about. you twist the wires together and push it all the way in and then you crimp it with a crimper

ive used about all of the other things before.

well i bought some of the little colored connectors you guys told me about. Ill install them this weekend, cuz when I was splicing into one of my rear speaker wires I cut one of the wires in half and now they are slipping apart and the speaker started to crackle. So now Im riding around with the sound coming from one side.

Wish I was home right now, could hook you up, I have a small arsenal of crimp caps and connectors.

OMG learn to solder guys!

it's really not that hard. your electrical connections will be 1000x better. do you know how much of a PITA it is to track down an electrical problem when one've your little twisty things fell off? also depending on how permanent an install is going to be, it's better to solder just for the sake of keeping your wires neat. i usually only use some type of plastic connector or tap as a temporary connection if i'm not sure I want to keep something a certain way. once i'm set on how i want something wired i go back and solder and wrap everything. nice and clean.

btw anyone tried those new 'cold heat' soldering irons? the ones that're supposed to heat up in a split second and cool down just as fast. it looked neat and VERY useful but i'm curious how well it works.

Why are we bring posts back from 3 years ago?

I have a cold heat iron. They suck for anything other than quick-and-dirty SMD rework. You can't get much heat out of 4 AA batteries. Stick to a good Weller or Pace iron.

Im reading through this post and Im beating myself silly. You cant tell me some of you guys are actually using wire caps. What are you installin a freakin ceiling fan in your car!! You dont use those. By far the best way to connect 2 wires if needed, is by soldering it. There are some occasions soldering is virtually impossible. This where you use crimp connectors or spade connectors. Please dont twist 2 wires together, then wrap them with tape. Thats just abusing your car. If you do, I would suggest in buying a fire extinguisher, a big one.

Originally posted by ner947
I have a cold heat iron. They suck for anything other than quick-and-dirty SMD rework. You can't get much heat out of 4 AA batteries. Stick to a good Weller or Pace iron.

damn i knew it was too good to be true. what's SMD? (sorry if that's a dumb question) :P

there's been so many times when i'm smashed upside down under my dash with a burning iron a few inches from my face that i though "hmmm this could be dangerous"

i was taught to use those insulated butt connectors at an early age. thats all my dad ever used. i have used them up untill about 2 months ago...then i decided to switch. when im making a connection between 2 wires, i now opt for the UN insulated (no plastic) butt connectors with the solder holes in the middle. i have found that if you use the insulated butt connectors, you sometimes tend to not crimp as well because you cant really see how well your doing. in all actuality, you just smoosh everything pretty much flat...with is not all that great. but with un-insulated connectors, you can crimp much tighter (i prefer to roll crimp mine) and solder it so its definately in there. a bit overkill, but its worth it to do it once. then just use some electrical tape or heat shrink tubing...whatever is appropriate. i just really got into soldering...and ill never go w/o it again.


on splices (one wire off an existing line) i use those light blue box looking connectors. it has a gillotine (sp) type peice. you run the existing wire through the front side, put in your splice wire, crunch everything down and it completes the circuit. im lazy when it comes to splices. i HATE cutting out those little chunks of insulation.

i have one also, commercial looks real enticing, but yes it sux real bad. Makes sum really really ugly solders, wish i could do it like the guy on the commercial, lol. My favorite brands are weller and craftsman myself. Can find both at sears.