Tinned wire

[fishrdan]

Re: Tinned wire

Yes I shouldn't have said "most" freshwater boats as I really have no idea of how many have plain copper or how many have tinned. But I can say of the 5-6 boats I have worked on the wiring (yeah not that many) have not had tinned wire for a majority of their wiring, maybe the odd run here and there of tinned.

Colbalt, Winner, Wellcraft, aren't those boats designed and capable or saltwater use, and sold in markets where being in saltwater is pretty much a given? I would 1/2 expect to see tinned wiring in boats like those.

Interesting article and pretty impressive how much weight that crimp connection can handle. The article says; "P.S. You can not execute a proper & strong crimp with cheap crimper's hardware store grade crimper's..." The crimper they were using cost $55, entire crimp kit $200. Not something the average-Joe is going to buy to to do some wiring on his boat, professional yes, DIY guy I kind of doubt it.

BTW, I use a set of high quality crimpers (Vaco, Klein something like that) and have tried to pull a crimp apart on 12ga wire. I was impressed with the strength, but it still didn't change my mind on soldering the connections.

Eh, like I said, some people like to solder, others oppose it.

 

[skargo]

Re: Tinned wire

Here is how I crimp, since we're talking about this here.

Crimp, and use a GOOD heat shrink connector,

Then use MORE heatshrink

Then use dialectric, or as I show in this pic, brush on electrical tape,

Tinned wire rules!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tinned wire

YThe crimper they were using cost $55, entire crimp kit $200. Not something the average-Joe is going to buy to to do some wiring on his boat, professional yes, DIY guy I kind of doubt it.

Funny but to me that sounds cheap!Of course I have never met a tool I didn't like. People wonder why I paid $950 for my plasma cutter!

 

[skargo]

Re: Tinned wire

Funny but to me that sounds cheap!Of course I have never met a tool I didn't like. People wonder why I paid $950 for my plasma cutter!

That's a great deal on a plasma cutter!

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Tinned wire

This is what I generally use to cut metal. A plasma torch would be nice for removing body panels on cars, but for fabrication from scratch, can't beat a waterjet.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Tinned wire

I crimp and solder and then use epoxy shrink tubing for the sealing of the joint, its not hard to solder the crimp joint without having the solder wick way up the wire and the epoxy shrink tubing makes a firmer vibration/water proof strain relief....no goo.

Epoxy heat shrink tubing;

http://cableorganizer.com/high-flow-adhesive-heat-shrink-tubing/

http://www.mainelectronics.com/heatshrink.htm

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Tinned wire

I had one of them cheap crimp tools that came in set with some misc. eyelets and spades, I hated it! could never it a good crimp ususlly it just smashed the ends, I then bought myself a klein tools crimper like this one and began making real crimps.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Tinned wire

Hey Bruce, did you check out that whole thread you posted, plus the links? Check out this one, the meat-n-potatoes of that threat you had.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/wire_termination

I especially like this picture of 2 crimps comparing how effective a ratchet crimper is compared to a good quality "plier" type crimper. Check out the porosity in the plier type crimper.

I still like soldering since it it "fills the void" (no porosity), but If I were to crimp only I would be using a ratchet crimper. I might not spend $55 for a dedicated crimper, but will spend $20 for another set of dies for my ratchet crimper.