How do you use these crimp connectors?

HI,

Just curious how you use these connectors....I've never used them before (the ones in between the two harnesses).  Do you twist the wires together first, put them in the connector, and then crimp?......or, do you twist them together, put them in the connector, twist the connector around, and then crimp?

Simple question....just never used them before.  Thanks!

Goose, crimp caps are fairly simple enough to use, twist the wires together, insert them into the cap, and crimp the cap tightly.

Good Luck

Hey CP.... stick with solder man..... it will not give you headaches later, but the way that spsracing described is the right way to crimp those if you wish to use them.

I wouldn't want crimp connectors in my own car just on principle, but we used crimp caps when I used to work at Best Buy.  Even though they're ugly, I have to admit that they seemed to be very reliable when used properly.

spsracing is right about the basic method----twist together tightly, insert, crimp-----but I do have a couple of things to add.

This would seem obvious to me, but I've seen plenty of other installers get it wrong:  You have to make sure that all of your exposed wire is inserted into the metal part of the cap (or any crimp connector, for that matter).  If you have half the wire sticking out, it could eventually become untwisted, and possibly protrude enough to short out.

And the other thing is to use good crimpers.  The flat-metal crimpers that come in those little kits do not do a proper job.  In different sections of Home Depot, you'll find crimpers by Channelock and Klein for around $20---that's the kind you need.  If you're on a budget, Sears has the same type of crimper with the Gardner-Bender name for around $10. 

And contrary to what you might think, you use the part of the crimper that says "non-insulated."  It has this sort of "tooth" that pushes into the connector and makes it into a good, strong shape.  You'll be afraid that the tooth is going to break the plastic covering, but you'll quickly learn that it doesn't.

cool, thanks for all of the info.

Yea, the reason I asked is because I've seen some people twist 2 wires together, then put them into the connector and crimp.  But then others have twisted the wires together and folded them down, then put them into the connector and crimped.  In both ways, I could see how some of the wire could be exposed like Chris was saying.