Electrical connecter thingy

[NcTurnL]

hey guys

I have a quick question


If there is a power wire and I want to use it also but its connected to something already, what can I do to "share" the power wire? I know there is some type of connection thing that you can use to share a wire....

Im asking because I dont want to cut the power wire, then add a wire going to it, then put it all back together...

so ya
Thanks!
-Jon

[AndrewBird]

Here are a few options:

http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0D351D3C957487006E2B091+M37+ENG

http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0D351E3B97240700591B091+M37+ENG

I personally don't like either as they don't provide a real solid connection. Best bet is to get a but connector that has different gauge openings on each end, then cut the wire you want to tap, connect one end to the small side of the connector and the other end plus the new wire into the other side of the connector.

This is the type of connector I am talking about:

http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0D351C3A91748700F3BB091+M37+ENG

You should be able to get them locally at an auto parts store like NAPA, but if you can't find them, you can usually get away with using a connector where both sides are the same gauge. Just be sure you get one that both wires will fit into, but just barely, that way you can still crimp down the single wire on the other end.

[NcTurnL]

Thats for the response man but the links don't work :-(.
Its ok though

Do you happen to know the actual name of the "thingy" lol, so I can find it at a parts store?

[Mless5]

regular butt connector will do if you have a good crimping tool and heat shrink both ends or you can go fancy with 3M:

[NcTurnL]

Well everyone is telling me that butt connectors arnt to good, they cut down the wire thickness and messes up the flow of the wires.

Well then, I think I might FINALLY pick up a solder iron, Im pretty sure thats going to do it pretty god.

[mode]

Solider is going to have higher resistance than a butt connector.


Are you wiring up the space shuttle? If not, just use butt connectors.

[NcTurnL]

lmao

good point...but I wan something to know that it wont f up later on

[Jscotty]

One thing that I like to do is to remove a 1/2 inch section of the jacket further down the wire, then I will split the strand bundle apart and twist the new wire into the middle of it.

[Jean]

Solider is going to have higher resistance than a butt connector.
.

False.

[AndrewBird]

The taps Mless5 posted usually are only made for solid wire, not stranded. So unless you can find some made for stranded wire, they won't work correctly.

Soldering isn't very good in cars for multiple reasons. For one, soldering makes a rigid connection, not a good thing where vibration is present. Fatigue from vibration can eventually break a solder joint over time. Also, rosin is used with solder to clean the surface of what you are soldering so the solder will stick. This rosin over time can also lead to corrosion in the wires, another bad thing.

As far as what Jscotty said, that is a great way to tap a wire, however, it leaves a spot for corrosion to form as the only protection that you could put on it is tape, since you can't slide shrink tubing over it.

The type of connector I was talking about earlier looks like this:



One end will have a stripe on it denoting the bigger end. The sizes are color coded, red, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, red (the colors repeat). Red are 22-18 GA, blue are 16-14 GA and yellow are 12-10 GA and so on. Unless you are splicing a battery cable or something, a blue connector with a yellow stripe should do just fine. Or if you can't find a step connector, a solid yellow one will do.

A trick is to strip off twice as much sheathing off the end of the single wire, then fold it over itself so it is double thickness. Then it fills the connector better for a better crimp.

[NcTurnL]

awesome info
thats what I was looking for

thanks man!

[mode]

False.

Nice response. Care to back that up?

[AndrewBird]

The resistance difference between a solder joint and a crimped joint is so small that it doesn't matter in the end. Yes, there might be a difference, but really, both are considered infinite resistance.

[Jean]

Nice response. Care to back that up?

Sure, when you solder one wire to another (like in this case), you don't just lay one strand on another and lay a blob of solder. To make a good connection you would want to clean both ends, WRAP one on another to make a good mechanical and electrical connection and then solder it. If you would like I will measure resistance of of two connections (butt vs soldered) ...

[Jean]

The resistance difference between a solder joint and a crimped joint is so small that it doesn't matter in the end. Yes, there might be a difference, but really, both are considered infinite resistance.

Exactly, but opposite of infinite in this case as it would be in milliohms and not on the other side (infinite). ;)