Solder or Crimp in my new car stereo connections????

[redgtxdi]

So when gas went to $3/gal in September I bought a high mpg little car. Havin' fun w/ it. I've done a few things to it already & wife bought me a cd-player for it & some door speakers to replace the paper/blown ones.


So she bought all the installation components too. Should I solder or crimp??

Been a long time since I installed a stereo & I think folks were still using butt-connectors then.....

(he he.................he said "butt")

.....so just wondering if there's any newfound magic in the last 10 years.

 

[Zugzwang152]

i ended up soldering mine, but it wasn't near high end, and I couldn't tell the difference between mine and a friend's who crimped.

 

[redgtxdi]

Or just screw it & twist 'em & wrap 'em in electrical tape???


(Don't laugh, one of my best old school systems was supposed to be "temporary" and I did this w/ the actual radio connections.........obviously amp connections were RCA, loop, etc.............anywhoo, after 3 years & never getting back in there to crimp/solder, I just said....."screw it" and left it. Sold the car like that!)

 

[Ronstang]

I always prefer to solder all connections but if you have it installed by the so-called professionals they are going to use crimp connectors. Unless it is extremely high end equipment all the way around then crimp connectors are fine.

 

[clamum]

I twisted and taped mine and it's worked fine for years but I'm a lazy type of guy.

 

[spidey07]

I always used butt connectors. if you do them correctly they are very secure.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

if the crimps feel like there of decent quality and are nice and tight use them otherwise solder.

 

[joinT]

my suggestion with any wiring (no expert on cars) is always to use crimps first.. make sure it works fine for a couple weeks, THEN solder it once you are satisfied..

kinda like measure twice, cut once

 

[ShadowBlade]

weld it

 

[Turbopit]

Crimp.

Most professional car guys (not talking about stereo installers) use crimps. Soldering is to "stiff". If the wiring gets moved much it will weaken at the spot where it enters the solder.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Solder+heatshrink.

Soldering too hot lets the solder run down the wire and stiffens the joint. So solder with the requiored heat only. Using heatshrink will keep the joint from flexing.

If you use crimp butt connectors, lube the wire with WD-40 or Vasiline to prevent corrosion. Remember rust (oxidation) never sleeps


...Galvanized

 

[wasssup]

Originally posted by: clamum
I twisted and taped mine and it's worked fine for years but I'm a lazy type of guy.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Solder+heatshrink if you're good at soldering. Otherwise crimp.

 

[thirdeye]

I prefer crimping mine, just because it's easier and less of a hassle.

 

[radioouman]

Solder!!!!

I always build my wiring harnesses disconnected from the radio.

 

[captains]

i changed to the bullet connectors so i can easily disconnect radio or change out radios with out redoing all the connections