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Where can I buy bulk "red" butt connectors?

y5mgisi

y5mgisi

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I'm looking to buy a hundred or so of the red butt connectors. But I want the ones that don't have the red outer sleeve on it. I want just the metal part so as to heat shrink over the crimp. Any leads?
 
My reasoning is that I want to crimp and solder some times. If it has the sleeve on it already, I can do that. With the sleeveless style, you can crimp, solder, and then heat shrink for what I would consider the best possible connection.
 
I'm all for bulletproof connections, but solder and crimp seems excessive.

For 99% of connections, crimped and heat shrunk is plenty. Have you tried to pull apart a properly crimped and heat shrunk connection, like those shown?
 
Darren, I agree. In fact, none of the connections on a 737 throttle quadrant are soldered! They are all crimped. And I also agree that a proper crimp is quite stout. I wouldn't crimp and solder every one, but some I would.
 
y5mgisi said:
Darren, I agree. In fact, none of the connections on a 737 throttle quadrant are soldered! They are all crimped. And I also agree that a proper crimp is quite stout. I wouldn't crimp and solder every one, but some I would.
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How do they deal with corrosion? Won't the soldered connection hold up better in that case?

Dunno, only thing I can come up with. I can't recall if GM soldered any of the underhood stuff on the cars/trucks, but on the new stuff underhood, if it's not soldered, most all of it is waterproofed through seals.

Have been dealing with their interior stuff lately, none of it is soldered.

IMO to get a PROPER crimp of whatever type, you need the right tool for it anyway, not just a pair of pliers. There is probably a reason the OEM's don't just use a pair of pliers for their crimped terminals. :)
 
I crimp and solder all connections that are not weather pack. Only on autos and boats.

I did a couple of small airplanes for the experimental crowd. FAA mandates crimps only. The vibration of the plane will break the wires at the end of the solder. Never had it happen on anything I've built. But most of my stuFf stays on the ground most of the time.
 
This is the number one issue in my eyes.

IMO to get a PROPER crimp of whatever type, you need the right tool for it anyway, not just a pair of pliers. There is probably a reason the OEM's don't just use a pair of pliers for their crimped terminals.
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Now, im sick of using a lighter to shrink my sleeve... What heat gun do you guys recommend? Im not going to buy a stupid harbor freight unit...
 
actually the black hf heatguns aren't horrible... my boss has one... I have a similar Mac

i'll use that on big bat stuff.. but 10-22, i'll run whatever fire is convenient...
 
y5mgisi said:
Exactly! They are garbage!
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eh, go look under the dash of a Bilgeliner or Bluewater boat, you'll be a disciple...

and we CK5'er's do water crossings on occasion, sooooooooo...... :haha:
 
I used to use nothing but the cheapo crimp connectors. I've had them lead to a shorts after a few years of use, though, even with the correct crimping tool, so I solder everything now. But I've still got a bunch of leftover crimp connectors, so I keep them for road trip/trail spares- they're quick and easy and will work well enough to get me home, at which point the connection will get soldered/heat shrunk.

As far as a heat gun, I did buy the harbor freight one. Two heat settings, I don't know how long it will last, but it's worked just fine so far. I've actually found myself using it a good bit for stuff other than heat shrink (which is what I bought it for), it's a tool I went without for too long, especially for how cheap they are.
 
bigred88 said:
I used to use nothing but the cheapo crimp connectors. I've had them lead to a shorts after a few years of use, though, even with the correct crimping tool, so I solder everything now. But I've still got a bunch of leftover crimp connectors, so I keep them for road trip/trail spares- they're quick and easy and will work well enough to get me home, at which point the connection will get soldered/heat shrunk.

As far as a heat gun, I did buy the harbor freight one. Two heat settings, I don't know how long it will last, but it's worked just fine so far. I've actually found myself using it a good bit for stuff other than heat shrink (which is what I bought it for), it's a tool I went without for too long, especially for how cheap they are.
Click to expand...

eh, I'll be devil's advocate and see how many "f*ck you's" I can stir up.... :pimp: bring it.... :woot:

soldering is WAY overrated in vehicle wiring IMO.. it has it's place, but also has it's own quality pitfalls too... you wont see d*ck in the way of solder work, on the biggest of boats, certified by the CG...

the only thing I solder is circuit board and radar stuff... the CG wants the proper mechanical connection.. period... certain shorts can melt out solder... :eek1:

I know that'll offend all the oldschool guys who swear they are "doing the best possible work"... :whistle:

it's just not true.. soldering heat stress and corrosion are far more of a corrosion/fail issue than a failed crimp.. proper tool and quality products assumed...

and honestly, factoring in a "money making biz" it's far from cost-effective.. soldering is STUPID time consuming...
 
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