customtouch said:
blazeracer said:
Once it comes time, every connection on my boat where two wires are spliced together I use these. Strip, crimp, heat shrink, done. They do NOT come loose once you put heat to them and are 100% water proof. You get a super clean install too.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_11151_10001_35776_-1?cid=chanintel_google&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=35776
Do you consider these to be a better option (functionally) then soldering?
Yes I do. You can run a connection made correctly with these underwater. That heat shrink that the factories use is an insulator, nothing more. Water resistant at best. They are trying only to stay legal while keeping costs down. These cost a little more but work way better. That's my .02 on it, and my boat is full of them to prove it.
I didn't see the ones at Harbor Freight that Cliff is talking about, but I've never really looked either. The real marine ones have an adhesive inside the heat shrink that totally seals the connection 5 seconds after the heat is removed. You can see it bead out when it shrinks.
Nothing wrong with solder and heat shrink either. It will work just at well. A little more work to get it together IMO. A heatgun is easier to work than a solder gun.
Here's a quick vid. You can see the little glue beads on the tips. TOTALLY water proof and never coming apart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBcPJ7Dtaw&feature=related
My entire DBW is done just like this.
