I can't find anything online that I like to tap into a 12 gauge wire. I'm looking for ideas.
I know I can strip an inch of so of the insulation off the existing 12 gauge wire, strip the last inch of insulation off the wire I want to use to tap into the existing wire, twist it around the wire and solder it but that makes for a very bulky connection.
I've seen some GM connections where they crimp them together then solder it, then wrap it with a really good tape. I like those but I can't find any of those connectors to do that. I don't know how to describe those crimps they use. They are a brass or aluminum sort of channel that the edges can be rolled onto the wire to crimp it together before they solder it. Maybe some of you have seen the style I'm talking about. If so, do you have any idea where to buy them?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks John. I had tried google a bunch but I went back there after I posted the above and now I found some good ideas.
One idea I had from looking at kits on Amazon is to buy some pure copper tubing (not brake lines that are copper steel), slit a piece of it to slide over the existing wire where I strip off the insulation, poke the end of the one I'm splicing in into the piece of tubing, crimp it, solder it and then wrap it either with heat shrink or that really heavy stick tape that GM uses.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
They have T-Tap connectors, but they partially sever the wire you're connecting to. Heat shrink will only work if you can slide it over from the end.
Yes, it will depend on the size of terminal that is already on the end of the wire I'm tapping into.
I don't like those T-taps very much, trying to avoid those.
I was reading some Amazon reviews. This was one of the comments. Why would he buy a kit full of crimp tubes? What was he expecting, pre-crimped connections that he didn't have to do anything to do before using???!!! LOL
"You need to cut and strip the wires and insert both wires and crimp. Hard to use, not recommended."
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
You are trying to have a good joint with 3 12 gauge wires? Post a pic of what you are trying to do?
The best heat shrink tube to use is marine grade, check at a boat shop, princess auto, maybe Cdn Tire. Available in up to at least 1 inch. You are trying to make a solid joint soldered together and good looking too?
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Picture doing this with 12 gauge wire. I've done lots like this with smaller wire but on a 12 gauge it's going to get very bulky.
I want to do this in each door. I need power to the switch for my power door locks as well as for the power vent windows. The power window switch already has live to it on each door, so I want to tap into that wire and run that to the lock switch, then the vent switch. I think that is far better than having 3 separate power wires running all the way from inside the car out to each door when I can do it with one power wire that branches out.
Normally when I do this I would strip about an inch of insulation off the red wire, strip the last 1" or so of the black wire, twist the bare end of the black around the bare part of the red, solder it well and then heat shrink it. With a 12 gauge wire it's so stiff to work with and will get so bulky with twisting it around I'm looking for a better way.
My thinking with a copper sleeve (maybe 3/16" copper tubing) I would slit it lengthwise, slide that over the bare part of the red wire, push the bare end of the black wire into the end of the tube, crimp/solder it and then heat shrink it.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I was thinking this was what you were looking at doing.If you use a good heat shrink the size of the 2 wires together, it will cover the 2 wires and slide over the single wire and shrink down tight. If you open up the ends of the wires so the individual wires and slide these strands forward into each other, 2 on one side, one on the other, you should be able to get a smallish solid solder joint where they meet? The marine heat shrinks are thicker and have additional glue in them. Ive also covered the crack of the double wire joint with liquid wire coat, then after that dries, put the heat shrink over the whole joint. The liquid cost will seal that joint from moisture. Ive done these sort of joints on my boat.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
We use these on occasion in the heavy truck industry
Tony, do you strip the wire that goes all the way through, strip the end of the one you're adding, push it into the sleeve then heat it? Or do you have to twist the wire being added around the one that goes all the way through, then heat it? That does look quite neat and compact but I'm guessing the picture is much smaller wires than 12 gauge.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Carl... Maybe check here in the USA before you go home to buy it. I got caught using a Dorman number I found on Amazon, thinking I could buy it in Ontario. Some numbers ONLY available in the USA.....
Intended for solar panel connections, but lists 10 to16 AWG. Looks like itd make a watertight & clean result. Wouldnt look 60s stock, but depending on where its located, that might be secondary.
I've been watching this post to see the different suggestions. To make a splice look like the Carl posted with the black wire joining the existing red wire with white tape, do this:
1. Remove 3/4" or so of the insulation from the red wire,
2. Remove 3/4" or so of the insulation from the black wire,
3. Where the red & black wire meet, trim the insulation back at an angle of each of the red & black wires, basically allow them to merge together.
4. Hold the conductors side by side, and solder them together.
5. Apply tape to cover the joint.
Been busy, meant to do this before, a picture is worth a thousand words. Its 10 AWG marine tinned wire, I had a scrap laying around. Just needs a good load of solder and good heat shrink.
In marine places where there is a big risk of the joint being under water, after solder, a light coat of 3M 4000 or 4200 over the solder, then slide heat shrink over that and heat shrink it. Wipe off excess 3M, then let harden overnight. Use this on bilge pumps in my open center console boat.
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Ok that is exactly the type of splice Im talking about. My concern was if it wasnt twisted before soldering it might not be strong enough but I guess the heat shrinks help with strength too.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I split the single in two and fitted one of each of the other wires into each side, load that joint up with wire, its plenty solid.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Something like this is likely more what you are looking for and surely you could get a vendor in your town to order for you if you cannot get to the city. This link should take you the product line to find what size you need. greggdistributors.ca/electrical/Wire-Connectors/tec761724pk
Something like this is likely more what you are looking for and surely you could get a vendor in your town to order for you if you cannot get to the city. This link should take you the product line to find what size you need. greggdistributors.ca/electrical/Wire-Connectors/tec761724pk
Exactly what I'm looking for, thank you!
They aren't in Manitoba but I have relatives in Alberta so I'll see if I can arrange something.
The only issue is, it doesn't show me the price and I don't need a pack of 25 which it appears is all they will sell.
Anyway, thanks again, I'll see what I can do with this.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
