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Weatherpack connectors?

Smokinthehippies

Smokinthehippies

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Anybody use them? Worth the effort?

I’m doing some wiring work under hood and I’m really leaning towards springing the coin for a weatherpack kit with ratchet crimper. The whole point of doing this is to have a nice, clean looking, and reliable wire situation.
I figure now is as good a time to invest the time and money into learning how to do a good job and have nice plugs.

Any thoughts?
 
When I make my own harnesses, I use them. Especially anything outside the truck. Napa has some parts, but I keep a pile of the connectors from Painless Wiring in my shop.
 
also heat shrink crimp connectors over std stuff . and make sure you use the correct crimpers for the heat shrink stuff as std stuff can pinch and break the seal before you even get started .

i have a set of MSD spark plug wire crimpers and they have 3-4 sets of extra die's you can buy for them for lots of different ends . look in to that also .
 
I drug my feet getting into weatherpack and now I wish I'd done it sooner. I use them a lot. I purchased a kit that included the crimper on ebay. Super easy to make them up.
 
mrk5 said:
I drug my feet getting into weatherpack and now I wish I'd done it sooner. I use them a lot. I purchased a kit that included the crimper on ebay. Super easy to make them up.
Click to expand...
Have a link?
 
If you need actual connectors (vs. joining existing wires, which I avoid if I can), weatherpack is generally pretty good. But they are bulky. They can carry quite a bit of current, but look at the metri-pack series if you have a lot of smaller wiring needs.

They are ALL in this catalog..GT, Metri Pack, Weatherpack, along with other stuff: https://www.powerandsignal.com/docs/DCS Global Catalog.pdf

With the weatherpack I've found people on ebay selling the two prong connector terminal bundles (10x +) for less than I could get them for at Mouser.com, for the other series however, Mouser is almost always cheaper IME. Some vendors can beat them for the prices on some components, but to avoid the hassle, I just go to Mouser. Drop the Delphi part number from that catalog into Mouser, make sure the minimum purchase quantity isn't 10,000, and put it in your cart. Repeat.

I won't besmirch anyone for shelling out the money for good ratcheting crimpers, but I have been using this tool: https://www.amazon.com/GM-Delphi-We...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A5011FTZDQXCQEZJ8266 and if I do my part, the crimps are indistinguishable from factory. Note that you are limited by the connector/wire size on the crimp tools. You can make the smaller tools work on 10/12GA wiring, but it starts to look sloppy. But you also start running into the amp limits for the terminals as the tool gets too small.

Don't forget one of these: https://www.waytekwire.com/item/421/Aptiv-Weather-Pack-Terminal-Removal-Tool/
Not sure you can get a weatherpack apart without one. Or a hammer.

FWIW I've been using weatherpacks for the two electric engine fans on the truck for ~10 years and haven't had an issue. As well as on solar panel projects, and various other 12V systems I play with.
 
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I got a greenlee crimper from Amazon. It works great. I use weathertight connectors if I ever think I will need to disconnect them. Summit has all the connectors, crimps, and dies. I bought butt connectors and heat shrink and use that mostly.

Like said above I wish I would of bought earlier.
 
Smokinthehippies said:
I

watched a video about that the other day. After looking at the two I feel like I like weatherpack better as it seems a little bigger and less finicky
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I hear ya. I've used both and for me the deutsch seem better made, more weather tight, and better connectors. I think the deutsch are better eye candy to boot. :D

You wont go wrong using either.
 
Before the weatherpack I started with Packard connectors which are the same as what these trucks use under the dash. They're nice because then you can modify factory connectors.

With the Packard connectors I found the cheaper crimpers didn't work as well. That's part of the reason I popped for the expensive weatherpack tool because I'd already been thru the cheap crimper experience.

You can also get plugs and terminals that are very similar to the Packard that work with relays and Carling switches. It's nice to have relay connectors with mounting tabs so you can plug and plug the relay as needed.
 
full


I had considered other connector types, but I had zero luck finding an authoritative manual like Delphi has for their various designs. I was able to put together my terminal, connector, and seal order with minimal hassle. Some of the other connector brands looked good, it was just the difficulty figuring what else was out there that kept me from considering them more than I did.
 
I used these guys you can buy as little or as much as you need so you don't need a whole kit, good prices and fast free shipping.
customconnectorkit.com
 
Blazooki said:
for a single connection I've had really good luck with these

https://www.amazon.com/220PCS-Solder-Seal-Wire-Connectors/dp/B07JPR474P/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3EB2VIV1XBLBF&keywords=solder+heat+shrink+connectors&qid=1565207046&s=gateway&sprefix=solder+heat+shrinnk,aps,207&sr=8-3

they have solder in the center and are covered in heat shrink..you just heat them up till the solder melts and then the heat shrink shrinks...you can throw a second tube of heat shrink over them to match colors or make it even more secure.
Click to expand...

GWeakland620 said:
Oh wow, I like those!
Click to expand...

These are pretty nice. You just need a small tip for the heat gun. Mine is too broad and it melts the heat shrink before the solder.
 
I use the cheepo harbor freight butane pencil torch and it works pretty well. if you move it around after hitting the solder first by the time the heat shrink is done shrinking is all melted up tight.
 
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