Soldering vs. Crimping Options

[Dr_Tweak]

For the past year or so I've been giving a lot of thought to soldering vs. crimping. While soldering wires is an effective method, and what I've always done, there are a few problems with it. It's a little messy, you have to deal with a hot iron, it's a slow process, and over time a soldered connection can corrode or crack. (Of course, that's why we shrinkwrap, but still.)

After reading Jeff Hartman's recommendation to use a crimper, I decided to look into it. Now, make no mistake! I'm not talking about those little baby crimpers that you buy at Pep-boys with the little insulated terminals. I'm talking about a full-fledged, expensive, professional, racheting crimper with non-insulated crimps. The other day I finally got the set that I needed (after ordering a set and getting the wrong ones!), and today I got to put them to use.

Check these baby's out:



Crimp one wire...



Then the other...



Completed crimp! This thing is SO strong, that the wire will tear before the crimp fails. And it'll never corrode.



All ready for heat shrinking:



One last thing. These things crimp so hard, that I have to use both hands!

[WannabeGT4]

That's pretty cool. I need one of those. Not just for my engine harness but for RJ45 and coax as well.
Where'd you buy it?
How much was it?
Which die are you using?

[Dr_Tweak]

That's pretty cool. I need one of those. Not just for my engine harness but for RJ45 and coax as well.
Where'd you buy it?
How much was it?
Which die are you using?

www.willyselectronics.com I think is the URL. That die is for non-insulated barrel crimps, they have a whole pile of them to choose from.

Consynx, that actually applies to connections AT connectors, like a weather-pack or Molex. Soldering at those points can cause breakage pretty easily, PROPERLY soldered but a connection INSIDE a harness is much less likely to break. (A crimped connection like this is still better) Just clarifying there

-Doc