Crimping LED pigtails

[CaptTom]

I understand the argument against doubling back the bare wire to make more "meat" for the crimp. But wouldn't using glued, heat-shrink butt connectors negate at least some of the problem of having a structural weak spot where the smaller wire emerges from the insulation?

I'm willing to conceded that a properly sized terminal block is generally a better solution, but sometimes you have other constraints to work around.

[MBWhite]

Too many variables in wiring to ever have a one size fits all approach.

I suppose the broadest statement I can make is whenever possible I like to use heat shrink tubing on everything, and whenever possible the tubing is the type with hot melt adhesive in it.

For really fine wires an effective method is to use a barrel crimp connector and put it on the wire, wrap the fine wire around the large wire, then slide the connector over everything and crimp. Admire your cleverness and then realize you forgot the heat shrink so cut it off and reinstall everything this time with the heat shrink tubing put on the wire first...

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by motion30

on those tiny wires, I often strip them twice as long as needed and double the wire over

This is what I do too, then back it up with heat shrink.

[Badsanta]

Skipmac thanks for the link. I did do a search first before posting but it didn't show up.

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[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by colemj

I solder them parallel to the large wire and then heat shrink them.

Yes, there will be massive howling about this practice here.

Mark

I also solder them to a larger wire and use heat shrink but then I crimp the larger wires together. And yes it doubles the number of connections but at least I get to do strain relief on a larger wire.


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[colemj]

I don't follow you - if you crimp the larger wires together, aren't you shorting them electrically?

By soldering them parallel (running in the same direction) and heat shrinking, the strain relief is on the larger wire.

Mark

[AKA-None]

I fear you've misunderstood me. I crimp intermediate wires to the led, and use those for strain relief. Then crimp the intermediate wires to the house wiring.

This way I'm not trying to crimp from the leds to the house wiring.


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[colemj]

Now I understand.

Mark

[a64pilot]

The failure of a solder joint is almost always right at the end of the solder, the wire fails from fatigue. If you support this with heat shrink, then the joint won't flex and won't fatigue.
Many plugs, connections, you have to solder, you can't crimp and heat shrink does reinforce the solder joint, at least in my experience.
I've never seen adhesive lined heat shrink tubing though, anybody have a source?

[colemj]

It is very common - just do a Google search and hundreds of sources will come up. You will probably even find it in home depot and the likes. I'm pretty sure I saw it in harbor freight.

Mark

[SVTatia]

My main lighting wire is usually 14 awg. If the wire sizes are 18 or 22, I have used crimp, heat shrink reducing butt splices. If they are smaller, I then double up to the reducing butt splice.

McMaster-Carr

[paulajayne]

Originally Posted by motion30

on those tiny wires, I often strip them twice as long as needed and double the wire over

+1 as well

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

...I've never seen adhesive lined heat shrink tubing though, anybody have a source?

https://gregsmarinewiresupply.com/Ze...index&cPath=12

[a64pilot]

Thanks,
I obviously haven't looked for it before

[Kestral]

I use 2 way Gel Connectors for joining small cables, they are used in the UK for joining phone cables, and they are supposed to be waterproof. easily available on Amazon.