[b0ssman]

I get the vehicle specific wiring kit, and solder the kit to the radio harness. Heat shrink them afterwards or electrical tape is ok too. But I would not trust wire nuts, or a basic twist and tape. And if you are crimping connectors, try to use a better crimper than the one that simply crushes and ovals out the connector. Get yourself a Klein crimper for $20 at home depot.

 

[Banegio]

I found myself using quite a few of these for low current applications.
Even for speakers, I would solder one side of the wire to the speaker and the other side into this plug for easy but secure connection.

 

[benny]

THESE:

are awesome. Or Anderson PowerPoles. Wirenuts are for houses, silly trunks.

 

[ChrisB]

I am guilty of using wire nuts on my test bench.:blush:

 

[King Nothing]

I always use bullet connectors

 

[The J]

Not that I'm trying to stir stuff up, but according to Audioque, "nothing beats a twisted, copper to copper, mechanical connection" i.e. wire nuts. link here

I have no idea if it's actually true though. I haven't used wire nuts since system #1 that was about 14 years ago (I'm on system #3 LOL!) thought. Normally, I crimp type connectors, terminal strips, or solder and heat shrink depending on what and where I'm connecting.

What I do is twist or hook the wires together so that they have a good mechanical connection before soldering them. I think the idea is that you don't want to just blob some solder on two wires that happen to be near each other since the solder has a much higher resistance that copper (I don't know the values off the top of my head, though).

THESE:

are awesome. Or Anderson PowerPoles. Wirenuts are for houses, silly trunks.

I was going to ask about using those or the high-current Traxxas ones. They're used in R/C cars that bounce around all over the place, so they would work here too, right?

 

[mazdasongs]

I used wire nuts back in the day, something happened, shorted something and my dash lights stopped working.

If you don't want to crimp or solder, and want something resuable, I would look into posi locks or posi taps, more expensive but prob cheaper than fixing some unknown short.

 

[xb_guy]

THESE:

are awesome. Or Anderson PowerPoles. Wirenuts are for houses, silly trunks.

Good info everyone. Would it be ok to use something like THIS as a quick way to disconnect say a subwoofer box? I got 2 of the 50A ones, and each sub should see about 250W.

 

[mazdasongs]

Good info everyone. Would it be ok to use something like THIS as a quick way to disconnect say a subwoofer box? I got 2 of the 50A ones, and each sub should see about 250W.

Couldn't you just use banana plugs? The terminal cups have receptors built in.

 

[xb_guy]

Couldn't you just use banana plugs? The terminal cups have receptors built in.

The trouble with the banana plugs is that I would have live, exposed terminals in the cargo area of my car when ever the box was taken out. I've already had one amp fire, and I'd like to not have another. My thought was this way at least the ends would be covered if I needed to haul some stuff.

Does that mean I made a bad decision?

 

[KAPendley]

The OP really does belong in the Dumb Question forum. Until there is a ****ing Stupid Question forum anyway.

 

[Austin]

I was going to ask about using those or the high-current Traxxas ones. They're used in R/C cars that bounce around all over the place, so they would work here too, right?

Ya the would work fine. They have an extremely snug fit when connected. If you wanted to be extra sure then some electrical tape around them but that is way over kill. from my experience i have never had one of these come loose on my r/c cars.

 

[meelo]

i don't like to use wire nuts just based on the fact that:
1. they aren't that great in tight places. kinda bulky
2. tho they may seem to come together well they aren't great things to put into a car.
3. I think there is more benefit to using crimps with quick disconnects. they ultimately become the best swapping out without you wearing out the wires or having to make them shorter every time you choose to change something.
4. soldering is great, i love it, but i hate getting an iron into my car areas unless i have to. (or i'm lazy and crimping is easier).

but i would not use wirenuts unless it was temp and i was trying to prove a theory....

 

[KAPendley]

I dont understand why wire connections are considered "temporary". How often are you guys swapping out HU's and **** anyway? I would prefer a PERMANENT solution, and one that is STILL easy to UNDO need be. Crimps or solder. Why is there even a debate on this? You do it right, or its freakin wrong. Just because someone has "never had a problem with wire nuts" does NOT make it RIGHT!!

It's like saying I put my brake pads on backwards, but the car still stops........for now.
Shaddup with stupid **** already!!

 

[gijoe]

I dont understand why wire connections are considered "temporary". How often are you guys swapping out HU's and **** anyway? I would prefer a PERMANENT solution, and one that is STILL easy to UNDO need be. Crimps or solder. Why is there even a debate on this? You do it right, or its freakin wrong. Just because someone has "never had a problem with wire nuts" does NOT make it RIGHT!!

It's like saying I put my brake pads on backwards, but the car still stops........for now.
Shaddup with stupid **** already!!

You woke up on the wrong side of the bed today didn't you?

There are A LOT of people, especially on this forum who swap equipment very frequently. I don't support wire nuts, but a good crimp connect is much more practical in some situations (and often just as secure) than soldering everything. I solder where I can, but sometimes it's just not the right answer.

You're house has wire nuts all over the place, does that make it wrong because everything isn't soldered? The key is a solid connection that won't come loose. Solder isn't the only way to accomplish this.

 

[MarkZ]

Soldering is overrated. You're way more likely to get a loose connection soldering than you are crimping or using wire nuts.

Oh wait, I forgot... EVERYBODY is an above-average solderer.

The wires are big enough and hidden enough to make it an ideal situation for crimp or wire nut, so I don't see the problem here. The only time I really solder in the car is when I have to go from big wire to small wire.

 

[nsaspook]

Soldering is overrated. You're way more likely to get a loose connection soldering than you are crimping or using wire nuts.

Oh wait, I forgot... EVERYBODY is an above-average solderer.

The wires are big enough and hidden enough to make it an ideal situation for crimp or wire nut, so I don't see the problem here. The only time I really solder in the car is when I have to go from big wire to small wire.

Crimping, yes. Wire nuts are only approved for lighting circuits. I use mainly mil-spec type connectors at work and used some "spares" for my car wiring. This series of connectors can handle almost anything.

SMS - Quick Mating / Product range list / Products / SOURIAU - Industrial Interconnect Systems and Connector solutions

http://www.souriau-industrial.com/e...ustrial.com/en/content/download/4698/26618/version/4/file/Contacts_TRIMTRIO.pdf

We normally use the machined contacts.

 

[Catman]

Soldering is overrated. You're way more likely to get a loose connection soldering than you are crimping or using wire nuts.

Oh wait, I forgot... EVERYBODY is an above-average solderer.

I'm enough 'above average' to have a NASA certification to solder on "Space Flight Hardware".

Wire nuts are a sign of an amateur. Anyone that takes the time to solder and heatshrink is usually going to do a much better job on everything else.

>^..^<

 

[KAPendley]

You woke up on the wrong side of the bed today didn't you?

There are A LOT of people, especially on this forum who swap equipment very frequently. I don't support wire nuts, but a good crimp connect is much more practical in some situations (and often just as secure) than soldering everything. I solder where I can, but sometimes it's just not the right answer.

You're house has wire nuts all over the place, does that make it wrong because everything isn't soldered? The key is a solid connection that won't come loose. Solder isn't the only way to accomplish this.

I am not angry, just blatantly honest. Wire Nuts have their place, and it is IN the home. You are right there. And I said CRIMPS or solder. My HU has crimps, I only need 4, the rest are RCA's anyway.

Again, Im not pissed. If you prefer hack **** in your (edit Your is a generalization) vehicle, then by all means, please continue to do so.

 

[chad]

Crimping, yes. Wire nuts are only approved for lighting circuits. I use mainly mil-spec type connectors at work and used some "spares" for my car wiring. This series of connectors can handle almost anything.

SMS - Quick Mating / Product range list / Products / SOURIAU - Industrial Interconnect Systems and Connector solutions

http://www.souriau-industrial.com/e...ustrial.com/en/content/download/4698/26618/version/4/file/Contacts_TRIMTRIO.pdf

We normally use the machined contacts.

Holy ****, your bench looks like mine and you drink Sunkist too!