Dear V-8 Buick electricians, I'm building a component housing to upgrade my trusty wagon with relays to power the headlights (upgrading the headlights also.) I've reached the point where I'm trying to run electrical wires into the relay housings themselves: However, I'm having trouble trying to crimp the connectors that go into the housings. They look like this and I know it is a common design: However, I can't manage to get a solid crimp without first man-handling the protrusions over so that they overlap. I can get a solid crimp if I do this but it is an inconvenience. Is there a special crimping tool for these sorts of connectors? Are the inexpensive? I can certainly live with my technique since I only have 9 additional wires to fit into the relay housings, but if there was an inexpensive tool that would be mor' bettr' Cheers, Edouard P.S. Since reading this web page: http://www.marinewireandcable.com/2013/11/crimping-vs-soldering-marine-cable-and.html I'm trying to crimp wherever possible. I used to think that soldering was always preferable, but the points made on that web page are very convincing.
Let me look, but I'm sure I have the tool you need. I think you can also get one at an electrical supply house. What gage wire are you using?
Soldering has its place, especially on circuit boards. I work as an electrician for a class 1 railroad and the older locomotives had solder on traction motor terminals. These are 1325 wire and we've change them all over to 3 ton crimps because heat was actually melting the solder out of the connectors. In your case solder would work, but crimping works just as well. For push on terminals, I prefer the sta-kon style terminals. A little more robust terminal
The issue with solder is vibration eventually cracks it and breaks the connection. A standard crimp is best for these and I believe there is a special tool, as referenced from an electrical supplier. I just use a regular crimp, but it's not as reliable as the special tool's crimp.
Thanks! (Re: Special crimping tool for connectors into relays?) Dear Gary, Eric, Randal, and V-8 Buick electricians, . . . Thanks for the helpful advice! I'm using 12 and 14 gauge wiring for powering the headlights. I sent an email to the fellow who sold me the upgrade kit and he suggested this GB crimper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00079LN1Y/?tag=2402507-20 This looks like a standard tool. I thought I would try to have a look at it at a local hardware store and see if it indeed might be handy. However, I managed to do a second crimp with my ratchet crimper and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I only need 6 more crimps. It might not be worth buying another tool until I have a new project that needs it. Your point is well taken. Almost all electronics is soldered, and even in a car, there are situations where soldering is the only practical option. I had to cross-connect the parking light wire to the taillight wire on my 1965 Buick headlight switch harness so that the parking lights would stay on when the headlights are on (as they do for 1968 and later cars.) In that situation, it was more practical to solder the two wires together: I also prefer them and are using them everywhere else on this wiring project. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to exist a STA-KON styled connector that will latch into the housing for the relays. Too bad, I agree these connectors are a bit primitive even if they should work fine. Thanks again, Edouard
We use pins in some of our connectors that use a similar style crimp just on a smaller level. The name of that style is escaping me right not but the main body of the crimp actually indents where the two "tabs" meet. In a pinch I've used needle nose to fold the tabs over and then a Sta-Kon crimper to gently finish it off. They held up just as well as using the proper crimper
That's the wrong tool for those type of connections. That's a tool for solid barrel terminals, not the open barrel style you have. I found my crimper, but it's only good for up to 14 awg wire, so it's too small for the 12 gage wire. If you want to borrow the crimp tool I have send me a pm with shipping address and I'll be glad to loan it to you (you cover the postage). Just return it when your done with it.
Crimper model and technique (Re: Special crimping tool for connectors into relays?) Dear Gary, Scott, and V-8 Buick electricians, Thanks much for the very kind offer, but it seems like a lot of fuss for 6 more crimp connections. I think I can cover these 6 with the crimper I've got. Could you give me a pointer to the type of tool you have though? Do you have a make and model or something? I would be curious to know what it looks like and how expensive it is. It might be something to add to my toolbox later on. I used to think that was the best of all possible worlds but actually it is worse. Take a look at this web page I mentioned: http://www.marinewireandcable.com/2013/11/crimping-vs-soldering-marine-cable-and.html Crimping has to be done properly. The big idea is apply enough pressure so that the crimp is literally air-tight. That is how to prevent corrosion reducing the current flow. If you solder first, you cannot cause the crimp to seal that lightly. As also mentioned, solder is significantly less conductive than copper. If you can get a copper crimp to do its job, you'll get better current flow. Cheers, Edouard
This tool crimps the Packard 56 style connectors. http://www.delcity.net/store/Metri!...YqTbuFJyFhHgAKo9b4lQQZqj1b6JhVDVbPhoC8Xrw_wcB
That is just a common spade connector. You can get the barrel type crimp connectors at any auto store. The ones you are showing do use a less common crimper but you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to get the tines started and finish with a common crimper. Actually you can probably get an ok crimp with pliers. Also on the spades you have you crimp twice, once on bare wire the other on insulated. Don't forget your shrink tubing. Here is the place to go for all auto electric stuff. Run by a guy named Mark. Hot Rod magazine goes to him for their wiring stuff. You have to call on all orders and usually takes at least 30 minutes because he wants to know all about your project. May have ideas that are better than what you are planning. http://www.madelectrical.com/
I agree, that is the wrong tool. You need a special crimping tool for the weather pack style connectors. There are different Packard part numbers, but the one that I have is #12014254. It does 14 to 20 gauge wire.I got mine from the tool man, but google that number, I've seen them o ebay. A barrel style crimper will not crimp that style connector. I forgot that I had a crimper that will do 10-18 gauge terminals. the Packard part # is 12155974. I hope this helps.
Is this the tool needed? (Re: Special crimping tool for connectors into relays?) Dear Paul, Doug, 1973gs, and V-8 Buick electricians, Thanks for your feedback. I'm still not entirely sure what sort of tool I'm looking for though. Is this the tool I should be considering: http://www.amazon.com/Delphi-Packard-Weatherpack-Crimper-Tool/dp/B002CCAEJ6 Amazon is probably not the place to buy it, but they are convenient to come up with a quick link. Thanks again, Edouard
Re: Is this the tool needed? (Re: Special crimping tool for connectors into relays?) That one will probably work. I wish that I could upload pictures to this site. I used to be able to. I haven't tried in a while, maybe I can now. The crimpers that I have are the ones that we use at GM dealers. They're spring loaded and stepped so that they crimp the wire and a seal (if used) in one operation. They won't open until the wire and terminal are properly crimped. They are really worth the investment if you are doing a lot of wiring on your car. I ran most of my wiring through the unused cavities in the bulkhead connector on the fire wall.You just buy the correct terminals, crimp them to the wire, and push it into the empty cavity. You don't have to drill a hole and use a grommet. It really keeps the engine compartment looking clean and if you're trying to keep your car looking original, you can add components with out seeing extra wiring.
That is the one I use. You will need to practice a bit. Here is a good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDedfvmI_0
Yes, you should get a crimper for Packard 56 series connector. I tried crimping connectors on some oil pressure wiring without one and wasn't able to get a good crimp. I found a nice used ratcheting crimper on EBay that did the trick. The process was pretty fool-proof once I had the right tool.
Thanks! (Re: Special crimping tool for connectors into relays?) Dear Doug, Stacey, and V-8 Buick electricians, Okay, that gives me something to go on! Thanks for the tips! I'll take a look at that video. You-Tube is priceless for this sort of information. Cheers, Edouard
