The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > Electrical

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-09-2020, 08:39 AM   #1
richards72chevy
Registered User
 
richards72chevy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: konawa ok/oakdale Ca.
Posts: 1,644
Wire butt connecters.

I know this maybe a stupid question.Been diving into a little bit more electric projects on vehicles lately.Wired up a signal stat switch on my 66 now I need shorten the wire job on it and clean it up a bit.I noticed in one of the other web pages someone said make sure and use quality butt connecters particularly 3m butt connecters.I trust you guys more than any other site.So does it matter?If it does what brand are you guys using?Thanks
richards72chevy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2020, 09:34 AM   #2
Thealien
Senior Member
 
Thealien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pine Ridge Florida
Posts: 4,126
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Personally I have always used non insulated butt connectors with quality shrink tube shrinked over the connection
Thealien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2020, 12:01 PM   #3
dmjlambert
Senior Member
 
dmjlambert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,513
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Twist wires together and solder, and cover with heat shrink tubing. That is a permanent connection that will not fail, and no need to butt connector at all.
dmjlambert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2020, 12:49 PM   #4
gmc684x4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Whitehorse yukon
Posts: 1,218
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Yes Solder and heat shrink
All but connectors are a ticking time bomb waiting to fail at an in opportune time

to solder you need clean the copper to shiny bright copper twist together use electronic rated flux and electronic rated solder and a proper solder iron not a plumbing torch

Reason for electronic rating is its non acidic and wont damage the wiring or corrode it over time

For a solder iron I picked up a nice butane one
gmc684x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2020, 01:06 PM   #5
Thealien
Senior Member
 
Thealien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pine Ridge Florida
Posts: 4,126
Re: Wire butt connecters.

All the factory connectors are crimped on new vehicles and our 50 year old vehicles. Soldering has a potential for the conductor to break right where the solder ends if there is any vibration. Properly crimped connections will last a very long time. Adding the heat shrink adds a bit of strain relief.

40+ years electrician working in Nuclear, power plants, production facilities, and hospitals. Use whatever makes you happy.
Thealien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2020, 05:24 PM   #6
LS short box
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 1,885
Re: Wire butt connecters.

I've rewired a number of hot rods and always used the butt connectors that heat shrink after you make the crimp. They also have some type of "goo" inside that seals the butt connector. Never had one fail. Buy them in bulk at Fastenal. Do not use those cheap blue or red butt connectors you buy at Lowes or Home Depot.
LS short box is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2020, 01:58 PM   #7
richards72chevy
Registered User
 
richards72chevy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: konawa ok/oakdale Ca.
Posts: 1,644
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Never have messed with the solder method.I have watched a few videos on it.The only thing that seems complicated about it is doing it tight spaces.Is it necessary to use the solder wax before soldering.
richards72chevy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2020, 03:42 PM   #8
Killer Bee
Registered User
 
Killer Bee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Barber City, CA
Posts: 4,717
Re: Wire butt connecters.

these little gems are the only way to go..

I've been working full service on heavy junk for 30 years and this is how the pros do it..

3m is popular brand but just about everyone sells them, kimball midwest, hi-line, lawson, etc..

friends don't let friends use scotch-loks but solder and heat shrink will surely outlast the machine you're working on

__________________
I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it
Killer Bee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2020, 03:45 PM   #9
gmc684x4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Whitehorse yukon
Posts: 1,218
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Yes the flux helps distribute the solder through the joint
gmc684x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2020, 08:59 PM   #10
dmjlambert
Senior Member
 
dmjlambert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,513
Re: Wire butt connecters.

If you get electronics type rosin core 60/40 solder, it has the flux built in. Just slide the heat shrink tubing up the wire far enough to be away from heat, twist the wires together, and heat the connection with a soldering iron or mini torch and apply the solder. Then slide the heat shrink tubing onto the connection and shrink it. I recommend practice a couple times soldering some pieces of wire that are not on the truck, and then you'll be ready to go. The self-solder connectors look interesting, but I'm old school I guess.
dmjlambert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2020, 06:56 AM   #11
wixthedog
Registered User
 
wixthedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Magnolia, TX
Posts: 225
Re: Wire butt connecters.

Honestly there is no perfect way. My job requires tons of soldering and lots of training to go with it and we suffer failed wire connections too. While rare we use crimp connections and they fail too.

What do I do on my C10? I solder and heat shrink when I can but I don't feel bad about using crimp connectors when it works out (but always with adhesive lined heat shrink).
__________________
Mike
1976 C10 RCLB - 350 - SM465 4 Spd - 4.5"/6" Drop
Obligatory Build Thread HERE!
1979 C20 RCLB - 350 - TH350 Auto
wixthedog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2020, 01:38 PM   #12
Dukk
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 63
Re: Wire butt connecters.

A person can bone a solder connection or crimp connection just as easily. Either done correctly should be a permanent connection. The issue is making sure it is done correctly.

In either case, the use of a good heatshrink to ensure that corrosion does not affect the exposed copper is critical to longevity. This is where 90% of long term failures on crimped connections comes from.

Last edited by Dukk; 08-13-2020 at 01:44 PM.
Dukk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com