Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Can't seem to crimp these stinkin connectors!!

I finally got the wiring harness for the CD-40Z and 2 sets of Bullet connectors from Radio Shack. Well I get all the junk laid out tonight and go to start connecting things but I am having the hardest time crimping the stupid radio shack connectors, all they do is deform when I bend them and the wire still slips out, it says it's for 14-16 gaugue. I am thinking of just saying hell with it, cutting off the other connectors and splicing the wires, should I use regular electrical tape? I've done that before on other HU's but not sure if there is something else I should go for?
Thnx

-Pete

I am a firm believer of solder/electrical tape for my connections. Do that to the wire harness and you should be good.

Soldering and heat shrink would be a great solution if you don't like using the crimp connections. I personally wouldn't use electrical tape. Electrical tape becomes a problem with heat. It looses its adhesion ability with time; your wires won't be insulated resulting in a short.

Ok, well I don't have a soldering iron here and the one at home needs a new tip so I would like to stay away from that, how do you use heat shrink tubing (yes I know that is a stupid question)

-Pete

just buy some tip cleaner. or a new tip (they're only $1). Any way, to heat shrink, all you need is enough tubing to cover the joint, slide it on before you connect the wires, of course. Then, use a blow drier (on the hottest setting) and apply heat to the tube untill it shrinks (should take about 5-10 seconds). Easy enough eh? hence the name heat shrink tubing, its NOT intended to hold wries together, its only meant to be a neater substitute to electrical tape..

New tips are cheap. go pic some up it's the best way to go.Slide the heatshrink on the wire before soldering. solder, slide shrink over conn. and heat

I had a hard time using the Butt connectors (is that the same as the "bullet" connectors from radio shack?) Anyway, I finally borrowed a crimping tool and it worked great. Very tight connections. I don't know what it would cost to buy one, but it was much easier than soldering in the long run, if you have the right size connector for the gauge of wire you are using.