Three-way Wire Splicing

[lBasket]

What's your favorite way to do this?

I have scotch locks but I think they kinda suck. I think that's kinda the general consensus on them? It was a nightmare messing with them on the camper when I rewired it (alot of wires cut in half).

I also have these T-taps but they kinda suck too, they don't seem to handle vibrations well?

 

[InOmaha]

I thought everyone used wire nuts and electrical tape.

 

[RocknLJ]

https://www.posi-products.com/images/POSI-TAP-PG-2015-2.jpg

 

[CharlesHS]

The metal inside the T tap and Scotch Loc will damage the strands of wiring and will rust over time.
Both electrical connectors can and will create intermittent electrical connections unless they are sealed from moisture.
I prefer not to use them....
Check out these connectors.... and use with dielectric grease.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cle...-channel+connection_type_store-dual~channel~t

 

[lBasket]

The metal inside the T tap and Scotch Loc will damage the strands of wiring and will rust over time.
Both electrical connectors can and will create intermittent electrical connections unless they are sealed from moisture.
I prefer not to use them....
Check out these connectors.... and use with dielectric grease.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cle...-channel+connection_type_store-dual~channel~t

These are T taps, no?

 

[lBasket]

https://www.posi-products.com/images/POSI-TAP-PG-2015-2.jpg

Never seen these before. I like the idea of threads instead of a clip-in type (my problem with T taps). Might pick some up

 

[CharlesHS]

These are T taps, no?

YES.... better designed T Tap.
I like the Posi Taps that RocknLJ posted above...

 

[Apparition]

I figured you were the type to remove the insulation. Wrap your other wire around it a few times and apply a good wrapping of electrical tape.

 

[lBasket]

I figured you were the type to remove the insulation. Wrap your other wire around it a few times and apply a good wrapping of electrical tape.

Rude

 

[WV Native]

https://www.posi-products.com/images/POSI-TAP-PG-2015-2.jpg

I keep a few of those in my kit for emergency wire repairs. They are easy to use and have been reliable from my experience.

 

[macleanflood]

Uninsulated butt/barrel splices and epoxy heat shrink.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

Uninsulated butt/barrel splices and epoxy heat shrink.

-Mac

Where do you get a 3 way butt connector?

 

[macleanflood]

Where do you get a 3 way butt connector?

Two wires in one side, one in the other.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

Two wires in one side, one in the other.

-Mac

Hmmm so do you size the connector up and double up on the single-wire size?

 

[mrblaine]

Hmmm so do you size the connector up and double up on the single-wire size?

No, they are called a step down butt connector. We use a ton of them for just that purpose. I have them in all the common sizes. And the heat shrink is not epoxy, it is a hot melt adhesive/sealant. When heat is applied properly, the adhesive flows, seals the connection and the adhesive function provides strain relief.

 

[Mike_H]

https://www.delcity.net/store/terminals/butt-connectors/non-insulated-step-down/

There are other places too, once you know what you're looking for.

 

[mrblaine]

https://www.delcity.net/store/terminals/butt-connectors/non-insulated-step-down/

There are other places too, once you know what you're looking for.

Without checking to see if it has changed, I typically avoid Del City for stuff like this in small quantities due to their pricing. Sherco Automotive has had good prices and good selection for these in a solid or brazed barrel version. But, I've had good success with all of them including some I have from Del City.
https://www.sherco-auto.com/collections/non-insulated-step-down-butt-connectors

I tend to have good luck with the Wirefy heat shrink on Amazon for the most part. We had to move to the 1/4" 4-1 ratio because the 3/16" 3-1 kept coming in at unshrunk diameters that were too large and too small for the tail light connections.

I'm not particularly a fan of Wirefy in general but I wanted as close to a single wall adhesive lined HS as I could get and theirs is very close to that.

 

[mrblaine]

Hmmm so do you size the connector up and double up on the single-wire size?

If I don't have the right step down and we rarely use anything but uninsulated solid or brazed barrel butt connectors with adhesive lined heat shrink, then we find the correct butt connector that folding the single wire in half will fit into for one end and the double wires in the other. That typically means you need a pair of pliers to squash the fold down tight enough to fit in the connector.

 

[Mike_H]

Without checking to see if it has changed, I typically avoid Del City for stuff like this in small quantities due to their pricing. Sherco Automotive has had good prices and good selection for these in a solid or brazed barrel version. But, I've had good success with all of them including some I have from Del City.
https://www.sherco-auto.com/collections/non-insulated-step-down-butt-connectors

I tend to have good luck with the Wirefy heat shrink on Amazon for the most part. We had to move to the 1/4" 4-1 ratio because the 3/16" 3-1 kept coming in at unshrunk diameters that were too large and too small for the tail light connections.

I'm not particularly a fan of Wirefy in general but I wanted as close to a single wall adhesive lined HS as I could get and theirs is very close to that.

They are pretty expensive for small quantities, but it was the first site I could pull off my memory (which is getting worse and worse) that I knew I could post a link to.

 

[lBasket]

Without checking to see if it has changed, I typically avoid Del City for stuff like this in small quantities due to their pricing. Sherco Automotive has had good prices and good selection for these in a solid or brazed barrel version. But, I've had good success with all of them including some I have from Del City.
https://www.sherco-auto.com/collections/non-insulated-step-down-butt-connectors

I tend to have good luck with the Wirefy heat shrink on Amazon for the most part. We had to move to the 1/4" 4-1 ratio because the 3/16" 3-1 kept coming in at unshrunk diameters that were too large and too small for the tail light connections.

I'm not particularly a fan of Wirefy in general but I wanted as close to a single wall adhesive lined HS as I could get and theirs is very close to that.

Appreciate the detail and knowing decent brands and places to buy them is really helpful. I will have to pick some of these up.

I have been using heat shrink without the adhesive, but the stuff you sent with the taillights did have adhesive and seems much better now that I've actually used it. I need to pick some of that up too.

They are pretty expensive for small quantities, but it was the first site I could pull off my memory (which is getting worse and worse) that I knew I could post a link to.

Yeah they're definitely a bit expensive but I suppose I am not making 3 way taps all that often.