Weather tight Crimp connections?

[baylensman]

Thinking of adding some more LEDS and moving some of the ones I have to different places. Does anyone know where to get Smaller then 20 Guage connecters? The wire for LED is very fine and the heat shrink connectors I use now sometimes I forget to double crimp the wire can work loose there so tiny.

 

went to the RC shop but those aren't truly weather tight.

[Prairiehammer]

Does anyone know where to get Smaller then 20 Guage connecters?

 

Molex makes hot melt connectors connectors for wire down to 22 gauge. DigiKey is a distributor of Molex products.

 

Harbor Freight offers some 18-22 gauge butt connectors that utilize hot melt adhesive.

 

Check with your local marine dealership, too.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Prairiehammer

[MiCarl]

You could also consider soldering on an extension of decent gauge wire so it's easier to work with.

[MikeWa]

For LEDs I often use telephone wire and connectors. I try to make sure I get the multistrand wire. Single strand wire will work provided you use it where it doesn't need to flex. It's handy because it has four color coded wires in a single small diameter cable. I pack the back of the plugs with dielectric grease or sometimes I solder the connection. The crimper stripper tool for the plugs was cheap at the local hardware store. I bought some plugs and a roll of wire about ten years ago. Haven't run out yet.

 

Mike

[oconeedan]

Good suggestions above. What about if you want a plug that you can disconnect when you remove a tank or saddle bag? Would be nice to have water proof plugs for that.

[djh3]

I buy a lot of my connectors from Joe over at http://www.cycleterminal.com Hey has a good selection of weather tight type connectors also.

[saddlebum]

Before butt connectors and heat shrink tubing one of my favorite splices was what was known as a telegraph or western union splice. I would then wrap it in splicing compound (now commonly known as Magic tape) then in later years with heat shrink tubing. I still prefer this splice today with fine or thin wires. You could combine this splice with the type of heat shrink that has a small ring of solder in it but a prefer to solder first then cover with heat shrink.

Also with regards to weather proof connectors one of the most readily available sources is your local gm dealer. They carry connector kits and terminals of all sizes. See the attached link which is a GM document. Also truck dealers such as Volvo carry a lot of weather proof connectors and terminals The ones used for data link wires are quite small.

 

This link shows a version of the terminal catalog though maybe not the latest version used by GM. Kit_J-38125-620H. http://www.weber.edu/wsuimages/automotive/J-38125-620B%20Terminal%20Repair%20Booklet.pdf

 

Also check out this link http://theelectricaldepot.com/index.php?cPath=7

 

This link shows the splice I am referring to. http://makezine.com/2012/02/28/how-to-splice-wire-to-nasa-standards/

 

Edited March 29, 2015 by saddlebum