Alright, so I managed to find about one inch of good wire before the wire goes into the keel of the boat. Basically, I’ve got one shot at getting this connection right or it’s done. I was planning on soldering and then putting heat shrink tape over it. I went to West Marine and they sold me on the solderless heat shrink butt splice connectors. What would you use if you were me?
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Originally posted by FollyAlright, so I managed to find about one inch of good wire before the wire goes into the keel of the boat. Basically, I’ve got one shot at getting this connection right or it’s done. I was planning on soldering and then putting heat shrink tape over it. I went to West Marine and they sold me on the solderless heat shrink butt splice connectors. What would you use if you were me?
I would use what West Marine sold you. Not because West Marine sold it to you, but because crimp connectors are the approved method for connecting boat wiring, not soldering. The heat shrink ones are best because after crimping, you heat the connector with a heat gun snd the adhesive melts around the connection and the tubing shrinks everything tight.
Make sure you use the correct tool to crimp. And the correct size connectors for your wire. If you’ve never done it before, get someone to show you or look it up on the Internet.
Ron
2000 Camano Troll
North Charleston, SC
I used the crimp connectors. However, I did not use a crimping tool. I used a pair of vice grips. Probably not smart but I thought I had a crimping tool and couldn’t find it. I have done plenty of electrical work and this has always worked for me. So far so good.
I got my switch panel installed as well and made up all the connections this way. Still have a few more circuits to connect, get all the wiring tucked up and out of the way, and build/install my light pole for shrimping.