JC Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 What's the best way to join 2 wires together to make a clean connection and to have them water proof? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevscort15 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Solder them ,and heat shrink them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 What's the best way to join 2 wires together to make a clean connection and to have them water proof? Crimp them, you shouldn't solder anything on a car. You get heatshrink crimps with glue inside which melts and seals when heated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevscort15 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Why, so theres nothing soldered on a car crimping can make poor connections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig855S Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 In line splice crimp with a heat shrink over it is what I'd do. Stu, is there a particular reason why solder is bad on car wiring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Why, so theres nothing soldered on a car crimping can make poor connections You won't find anything soldered on a production car, other than circuit boards which are treated specially. Crimps can make poor connections, if the crimper doesn't know what he/she is doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig855S Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Thing is though Stu, Ford didn't solder wire-wire in production because each and every wire is long enough to reach its termination at each end which is normally a crimped pin or socket. For adding aftermarket wiring associated with new gauges or cutting into factory wiring to tap a supply off it then surely soldering is just as reliable as crimping. I suppose it all depends on what you have at your disposal. At work I have access to proper crimping tools and proper crimps, as well as proper soldering irons with solder and flux, meaning I can make a clean join using both methods. But if you don't have access to a proper crimping tool and crimps then it may be better to solder (with the correct kit if you have it) than to squash a crimp with a set of pliers.. And besides, even a gash job crimp will still last the life of the car unless its messed with constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Craig855S- i'm a bit surprised to be honest if you're doing work on aircraft with a soldering iron, especially if you've not been taught why it's a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig855S Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 We don't Stu. For the most part. We've used a "solder sleeve" on an aerial wire once, but for the most part wiring damage means replacement. Repairing the existing wire is a rare occurance, but when they happen it's an in-line splice and heat shrink. However, I don't recall why soldering is bad.. I probably was taught it but we're talking years and years ago now and wiring goes wrong so rarely that I've only ever repaired/replaced about 5 aircarft wires in my career Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 any suggestions for cheap kits off ebay please guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig855S Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 (edited) Looking at ebay,they all look kack, even draper make a crap one that is basically a pair of pliers... Proper crimping tools have a ratchet and adjusting pins. This one looks like it may make an ok crimp, but from the pic you can't tell the quality from pics. Edited February 22, 2010 by Craig855S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 (edited) Didn't realise there was so much to joining some wire: linky Edited February 22, 2010 by Lordjc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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