Wiring Connectors

[ibrooks]

I've just replaced the loom on the GTM and since I wa mating to the tails on Triumph/Mini switch gear I used a fair number of connectors from here

 

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/index.php?cPath=94&page=2

 

The specific ones I used start at the end of that page. and into the first part of the next page. I've used Autosparks quite a few times and never had an issue. not sure if they stock plugs to match the Ford stuff though.

 

Polevolt do a lot of plugs to match the big manufacturers stuff.

 

The "special" crimp tool for the specific connectors I used costs around £8 and makes a far better crimp than the more commonly seen insulated crimps that the majority of motor factors use. I also have a pro style ratchet crimping tool for those though which again makes a far better job of them which is far and away better than the crimp you can get from the pliers style ones.

 

Iain

[Guest Peter Kelly]

I know everyone rates soldered connections as the best, but why do NASA specify crimped connections on the Space Shuutle?

Apologies if I'm hijacking this thread.

When I was a lad, long ago.I was taught never to use solder on vehicles, soldered joints were liable to break due to vibration. NASA scientist must have gone to the same school.

Peter

[Longboarder]

I had to unpick my engine loom a month ago to trace a fault in the oil pressure gauge wiring. Soldered joint fatigued and failed. I use proper crimped connectors and ratchet to apply + heatshrink but used to add solder for extra safety/peace of mind/better contact/more durable/etc. All rubbish. No more solder on my wires. I'm with NASA from now on.

 

Nigel

[Guest steve8274]

would this be ok for a crimper

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180562312765&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Guest The Modfather]

would this be ok for a crimper

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180562312765&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

This ONLY does insulated terminals. It will not do the non insulated type that go inside multi pin blocks.

It certainly looks good, may get one myself, as well as the other type.

[ibrooks]

Depends on what you are crimping. That one is for the common crimps with the red, blue and yellow sleeves. I have a very similar one that I got from B&Q in a box with a load of connectors - it's a convenient box so I replenish the connectors as I use them. I find these OK for one-off connections but they can be a bit bulky if you have a lot of wires to connect in one place and if you ever need to disconnect them it's a faff pulling lots of connections apart and putting them back together in the right order.

 

The one Nigel has pictured is for non-insulated crimps that generally push into a multi-plug of some variety. Much better for areas where you might want to disconnect a sub-loom. As I mentioned these are what I have at the bottom of the steering column on my GTM so that I can disconnect three plugs and remove the column if necessary I've also used a weatherproof multi-plug on the wiring for the front lights so that when removing the front clam I only have one plug to disconnect. I don't have the ratchet version of the tool - I got one from www.vehicleproducts.co.uk (reference MP71) which does the job fine.

 

 

Iain