how do you guys connect all of your speaker, radio, ect. wires? i have used solder before but it was a little messy but they stayed connected and everything. iv also just twisted them together and taped em. i think im going to try some connectors and crimper plyers as soon as i get my new cd player.

 

Twist and Tape is BAD...when electrical tape gets hot which it will under the dash, it will start it unravel leading to touching wires :-\

I use connectors on all my stuff, solder is good, if your good at it and i'm not :-)

 

I use butt-connectors exclusively. I don't like solder in the dash because solder can crack when you stuff the wires back in. With the butt connectors it seems to be more reliable as long as you crimp them properly, and use wire ties to bundle the wires on both sides to remove the stress from the connection.

 

I use shrink wrap. Twist the wires and shrink the stuff. Never had a problem.

 

crimp caps rock.

 

Heat shrink rocks! Then there is the Tamiya flat style connectors they use for R/C Cars. These are good and cheap. Plus they kind of look professional.

 

crimping them s th only way, clean,net andlooks pro. crip the , but just do it right

 

i sterted using tape and wrap. that sucked.

i gradueated to sodering, it was cool but it has flaws of universal comatibility.

then i started crimping, but the connectors were bare.

so now i use crimping connectors and i dip it in something called liquid tape that covers it completly and looks very professional.

 

huh?

I use butt-crimpers. I had ones with plastic covers behind my head unit, but ended up removing it and redoin the wiring harness, and got butt-connectors that were bare. I ended up wrapping each one up with a couple layers of electrical tape and I've never had a problem. Personally, if done right, I imagine the connectors would be more secure than sodering.

 

Solder with heat-shrink. Butt-splices if I feel lazy or in a hurry.

Never use or will use those tap-in things...

 

tap-in things?

 

on my car (when i had a system): twist caps and butt connecters.

on other people's cars when i do installs: tape. electrical tape, duct tape, even used medical tape once (it was all i could find).

 

Duct tape ...... ; )


I actually use crimp on connectors and electrical tape.

 

I use butt connectors most of the time. I try to use connectors on everything I do, from headunit wires to amp power wires and speaker wires. I ahve seen that liquid tape stuff, havent tryed it yet though. Looks like it would look very proffesional.

 

I always use bullet connectors (I think it's the same as your butt connectors), and if I'm wiring to amps etc. I use gold plated ring connectors.

 

i've soldered and i've used butt connectors. tape is only to go over the soldered or crimped areas. twist and tape is one of the worst ways to wire in a car. i gotta get some of that liquid tape someone mentioned around here. shrink tupe is nice for covering up too. i also like to do the wire tie thing to tidy up back there.

 

Sorry for the technical term, couldn't remember the name for them.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/...e/7063kp1l.gif

Thats what I was talking about.

 

lol ooohh..... when i first saw those i was like... wtf is this. i personally dont liek them too much but everyone has their own views.

 

Best--- Solder and heat shrink
Good--- Butt connectors
Worst--- Wire wrapping

I have been installing 2 way radios for over 15 years and the noticed the best connection to be soldering. I do alot of goverment work and some demand that we solder and heat shrink everything. Crimping is great but in my car it's only soldering for me.

 

Sorry to ask a stupid question, but how does the tap-in thing work?

 

The larger guage wire in the pic is the wire you are trying to get your signal from, the smaller wire is the wire thats getting tied into the main wire. That piece of metal gets pushed through the insulation of the main wire and contacts the copper inside when you close the latch on the top. The other side of the metal piece is connected to the smaller wire.

 

you can just get the fully insulated butt connectors. that's really the way to go if you're making connectors.

if you solder well, that's electrically the best connection, but there are some problems in terms of automotive use (cracking when cramming wires into tight spaces, disassembly later). you also have to make sure you use compatible materials to avoid corrosion effects.

 

as has been mentioned, i have come to the following conclusions in my own experiences:
1. soldering provides the best connection; therefore the best power propagation and sound quality
2. heat shrink provides the "security blanket," if you will, that protects the solder connection.
3. twist 'em if you don't have any friends or skills with soldering. but ONLY as a LAST resort.

that's just my $0.02

 

well, the crimp connectors are still better than twisting, and soldering the wires to the connector after crimping provides a good compromise for people that may have to take things out several times.