Recommended Electrical Connectors?

SSTJ

SSTJ

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I guess this is the right sub-forum to use for this question. Anyone ever used these? Amazon tells me that 18,000 people are happy with them, but I'd value your opinions more.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073RMRCC3/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Edit: I'm also interested in brand recommendations for crimp-style connectors.

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Update: Here's what I've gleaned from this thread so far.
  • For basic connectors, try Crutchfield's. Great customer support, and number of options is not overwhelming.
  • For wider selection, but specific to auto and marine, try Del City. @mrblaine uses regularly.
    • But, most pieces must be ordered in sets of 50 or 100.
  • Similar to Del City is Sherco Automotive. @mrblaine's crew are starting to use them too.
  • For Amazon, no comment, except that @mrblaine like Wirefly's 3:1 adhesive heat shrink.
  • For an overwhelming selection, try Mouser or Digi-Key. Not all specific to auto or marine.
  • Back to the original question: no, those heat-shrink solder connectors do not seem to be as popular as adhesive heat-shrink crimp connectors. Or, non-insulated crimp connectors with your own adhesive heat shrink over that.
 
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Curious as well, I've seen them frequently over the last couple of years.
 
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SSTJ said:
Is this where I'd find those? I'm getting lost in the site so thought I'd ask before I dug any further.

https://www.te.com/global-en/products/brands/raychem.html?tab=pgp-story
Click to expand...
I don’t think the public can buy direct. You’ll need to find a distributor. Probably an electronics component distributor.
I never needed to buy them, ha ha, or I’d suggest a place.

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...MIl8Dl8bCO8gIVeCGtBh05uwMfEAQYBiABEgLEqvD_BwE
Mouser carries some, you’ll have to look around and see what they have.

Or google Raychem solder sleeve.
 
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Modoc Guy said:
I don’t think the public can buy direct. You’ll need to find a distributor. Probably an electronics component distributor.
I never needed to buy them, ha ha, or I’d suggest a place.

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...MIl8Dl8bCO8gIVeCGtBh05uwMfEAQYBiABEgLEqvD_BwE
Mouser carries some, you’ll have to look around and see what they have.

Or google Raychem solder sleeve.
Click to expand...

Got it, thanks. While I have you, do you have any recommendations on good places to order other kinds of wiring stuff, like butt-end connectors, shrink wrap, etc? I can use Amazon, but I don't know whether I'm getting anything reliable.
 
I’ve got some I bought on Amazon. Not my favorite, would prefer a crimp. But, I’ve not had an issue with them either.
 
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SSTJ said:
Got it, thanks. While I have you, do you have any recommendations on good places to order other kinds of wiring stuff, like butt-end connectors, shrink wrap, etc? I can use Amazon, but I don't know whether I'm getting anything reliable.
Click to expand...

Mouser and Digi-key are both excellent sources, but they have massive amounts of products, so it's hard to just browse.
You kinda gotta know what you want or what you are looking for or you're gonna get overwhelmed with choices at most industrial or wholesale supply houses.
 
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Reviving this thread because someone recently recommended sta-kon connectors. Can anyone else vouch for them? They look expensive.
 
I can't speak to the sta-kons, but I bought a kit of these of Amazon and they work pretty good.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08F46WKCZ/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Use a heat gun with a cup style nozzle on the end works best. The wire must be clean and sized appropriately for the connector. You cannot really do connections where you have 1 wire in one side and 2 in the other. They are good foe emergency and quick fixes.

I used to do a lot of motorsport wiring with Raychem products and they are out of their minds. One solder seal connector from Mouser is $5. Look for yourself if you want.

https://www.mouser.com/c/wire-cable/wire-cable-management/solder-sleeves-shield-tubing/?q=raychem
 
Jezza said:
I can't speak to the sta-kons, but I bought a kit of these of Amazon and they work pretty good.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08F46WKCZ/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Use a heat gun with a cup style nozzle on the end works best. The wire must be clean and sized appropriately for the connector. You cannot really do connections where you have 1 wire in one side and 2 in the other. They are good foe emergency and quick fixes.

I used to do a lot of motorsport wiring with Raychem products and they are out of their minds. One solder seal connector from Mouser is $5. Look for yourself if you want.

https://www.mouser.com/c/wire-cable/wire-cable-management/solder-sleeves-shield-tubing/?q=raychem
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm going to pick up a smaller set of these just to see how they work. But otherwise I think I'll stick with crimping ones for now. Still hard to know a brand that can be trusted, so I was interested in others' thoughts on sta-kon.
 
Anyone here work on Jeeps for a living and have a brand of connectors that is reliable without being as expensive as Raychem or Sta-Kon? I'd be glad to use whatever @mrblaine does, for example. @Mr. Bills has given me good electrical advice in the past, too.
 
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SSTJ said:
Anyone here work on Jeeps for a living and have a brand of connectors that is reliable without being as expensive as Raychem or Sta-Kon? I'd be glad to use whatever @mrblaine does, for example. @Mr. Bills has given me good electrical advice in the past, too.
Click to expand...
I use a lot of stuff from Del City Wire. But, they are not cheap and good connectors aren't.
Brazed or solid barrel doesn't split open when crimped.
These are examples of what I buy from them.
https://www.delcity.net/store/Nylon!Insulated,-Brass-Crimp-Sleeve-Ring-Terminals/p_806179.h_806180

https://www.delcity.net/store/Non!Insulated-Butt-Connectors/p_801870.h_801871

https://www.delcity.net/store/3M-Fully!Insulated-Nylon,-Brass-Sleeve/p_806033.h_806034

They have solder seal versions.

https://www.delcity.net/store/Heat-Shrink-&-Solder/p_805408.h_824682

In fact a few versions.

https://www.delcity.net/store/Heat-Shrink-Butt-Connectors/p_805403

Again, not cheap. My problem with not finding cheaper sources is when I started using DC many years ago, there were not a lot of good sources that clearly delineated the different types and quality thereof so I wound up with a lot of the crap they sell at places like Kragen. I know how to get that, I wanted the better stuff which DC has. I'm sure most can find better prices, I haven't spent the time.
 
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mrblaine said:
I use a lot of stuff from Del City Wire. But, they are not cheap and good connectors aren't.
Brazed or solid barrel doesn't split open when crimped.
These are examples of what I buy from them.
https://www.delcity.net/store/Nylon!Insulated,-Brass-Crimp-Sleeve-Ring-Terminals/p_806179.h_806180

https://www.delcity.net/store/Non!Insulated-Butt-Connectors/p_801870.h_801871

https://www.delcity.net/store/3M-Fully!Insulated-Nylon,-Brass-Sleeve/p_806033.h_806034

They have solder seal versions.

https://www.delcity.net/store/Heat-Shrink-&-Solder/p_805408.h_824682

In fact a few versions.

https://www.delcity.net/store/Heat-Shrink-Butt-Connectors/p_805403

Again, not cheap. My problem with not finding cheaper sources is when I started using DC many years ago, there were not a lot of good sources that clearly delineated the different types and quality thereof so I wound up with a lot of the crap they sell at places like Kragen. I know how to get that, I wanted the better stuff which DC has. I'm sure most can find better prices, I haven't spent the time.
Click to expand...
I buy everything there as well, and sometimes Waytek as well, if I need relays, switches or other actual electrical components. The step down non insulated butt splices are super handy. It is not cheap, but I typically make an expensive shopping trip for several hundred and then I'm good for a while. The non-insulated crimps are the best. With a T&B crimper, I am never going back.

I've had too many connectors from Amazon or similar fail so I pretty much only go with DC because I haven't had anything from them fail. The stuff looks identical to Amazon yet works much better with the same crimpers. Hard to argue against it regardless of the price.

Edit: Actually just checked and I have made one order at Waytek which was for loom clamps about 2 years ago. I guess I don't go there as much as I thought. I get confused between the two since the websites are similar.
 
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NskLJ said:
One more place to look ace to check is MSC industrial supply. I chose them when we set up all the shops at my work. They were able to supply us with almost everything we needed.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/Li...rical-Connectors/Wire-Terminals?navid=2109123
Click to expand...
DC isn't known for being cheap, but MSC doesn't even look like they are trying. I know this connector very well; I've bought 1000's of them since that is what was sent out with the Savvy Tail light kits. That's a big difference in price.

1641220174125.png


1641220252697.png


1641220297632.png
 
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machoheadgames said:
I buy everything there as well, and sometimes Waytek as well, if I need relays, switches or other actual electrical components. The step down non insulated butt splices are super handy. It is not cheap, but I typically make an expensive shopping trip for several hundred and then I'm good for a while. The non-insulated crimps are the best. With a T&B crimper, I am never going back.

I've had too many connectors from Amazon or similar fail so I pretty much only go with DC because I haven't had anything from them fail. The stuff looks identical to Amazon yet works much better with the same crimpers. Hard to argue against it regardless of the price.
Click to expand...
Those step down butt connectors are life savers, not cheap, but worth every penny.

I have 4 or 5 types of heat shrink. My favorite is the stuff below but apparently it has been long enough since I bought it that they no longer carry the 6" precuts.

1641220724951.png
 
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