Many thanks great guide!!
Where can I buy the connectors as per the first picture?
Where can I buy the connectors as per the first picture?
HalfordsMany thanks great guide!!
Where can I buy the connectors as per the first picture?
SolderingWhich method is best?
Soldering, followed by self-amalgamating tape, followed by insulating tape, produces the best joints but requires the most skill. This is recommended for exterior joints or joints subjected to oil/vibration/heat/dirt/moisture.
Soldering with insulating tape is ideal for interior use as you'll make far less mess with the plain insulating tape, and there isn't really any oil/dirt/moisture to damage the joint.
Wire clips are ideal for beginners, because you can't cut yourself, burn yourself, cut things on the car, melt things on the car, or make a joint that can short-circuit when using these clips. They are only for interior use though; on low-current cables that aren't subjected to oil/dirt/moisture/vibration. Do not use these clips outside the vehicle, in the engine bay, for high-current loads, or anywhere there is vibration.
It's probably fairer to say that soldering is very sensitive to operator skill. (soldering is really only out of fashion in aerospace because of cost: unskilled labour + crimps is cheaper). Otherwise, it's stronger, lighter, and neater than a crimp.As for soldering it is a very poor method of wire repair and shouldn't be used in the automotive industry, there are to many variables that people don't understand, like the type of solder that should be used, the type of flux that should be used, the tempeture of the solder bolt and the condition of the wire.
Insulated terminal crimps are an '0' crimp. This isn't as good as the double B crimp (better still, a 4-indent/hex crimp) that you find in OEM wiring in my view, especially on the smaller wire diameters. You get far more extrusion of the wire stands and voiding with a 0 shape crimp - both bad things - which reduces the security and longevity of the crimp. The wires creep into the voids at either end of the 0 over time, relaxing the joint; turning a round wire into a flat end over-stresses the strands at the side of the connector whereas on a B or indent/hex crimp the forces are even; the muck and moisture creep up the voids.If you are going to do any sort of wire repair, i would recommend using a Duraseal crimp splice connector.<snip>
if you could make one for the Duraseal connectors then that would be great.
Never had a problem with them myself (interior work), I do heat shrink over and never put them where the wire is stressed.Folks must never ever confuse them with these pieces of junk though:
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These are evil. Opaque plastic prevents you from seeing the wire and either interferes with the crimp tool or splits and falls off. There's no strain relief whatsoever, and plenty of space for much, dirt, and bullets to find their way into the wire. Folks usually crimp them with this type of tool: