ltoolio

In my rewiring project in/around the dash, I've stumbled upon a number of the connectors below. I've been removing them in circuits that I've been rehabing, as they seem like a quick way, but not necessarily best way, to splice wires together and a possible source of future failure (seems like things could disconnect under stress).

Is that a general consensus?

Jim M.

Crap of the highest order!

James Bailey

Used by the stereo installers who get paid a flat few dollars PER INSTALL.... they do it FAST...

ltoolio

Well, that might the the case, but in my scenario - they were used to splice accessory lines, ground lines, hot lines, you-name-it-lines.

Feels good that I'm ridding the car of em. Kinda like finding a bunch of weeds in a garden and pulling them out.

Ducman82

complete junk. they cut the wire you are trying to "splice" in to....

Dave928S

Carefully examine the cable when you take them off. Depending on the gauge of the wire, those crappy excuses for a junction, can actually cut some of the strands, and de-rate the cable.

Edit: confirming McBoobs comment.

bureau13

I actually used them on an older car. It was a teaching moment lol

ltoolio

I've cut and respliced everywhere I found them. Most of the ones that I popped open had cut wires, so I figured better safe (and piece of mind) than sorry.

I chuckle every time I see McBoobs on a page. I'm trying to convince my wife to get one of those Tshirts. She hasn't bought in yet.

depami

If properly sized, silicone grease filled, and used appropriately, they do okay.

As with any IDC, there is potential for wire damage and corrosion.

That particular style really gets a bad rap from being improperly used on trailer wiring.

Under the dash they might be fine but I would also remove them. Chances are, they are not grease filled an could have oxidation issues.

Dave928S

I've already ordered one. I'll see if I can emulate Ducmans Avatar through the sunroof of the GTS

Alan

Ahh good - looks like you have the right equipment for it on hand... that's very good luck!

Alan

Alan

These kind of IDC connectors have their place. There are some things where you cannot buy the connectors used and the wiring is very short - where nothing much else works. The key here is sizing - if the wire and connector is ideally matched these can work OK. They are never good for high current applications or exposed locations. An example - tapping into the alarm connections on a GTS under the passenger seat is difficult to do any other way. These are all low current sense wires and of a small core size.

However - where there is a realistic alternative - use that.

Alan

ltoolio

+1