Re: [Cal_Boats] electricl connections

Do NOT solder connections...a properly crimped connection, using tinned stranded wire and tinned copper connectors will in effect be soldered by the pressure of the crimp. The assumption being here, of course that you use a proper ratcheting double crimp tool to make the crimps. The problem is that most people use the inexpensive non-ratcheting tool, and don't get the proper amount of pressure around the connector. Also, many folks only make one crimp, instead of the two separate ones required for a proper job. Soldering turns the very flexible stranded wire into a solid conductor for a short distance up the wire from the crimp, and a solid wire is forbidden by the ABYC and USCG. I see soldered connections fail often. Best-Mark Mark & Terry Rogers Mobile Marine Electrical Services, Inc. "Seirenia" 1966 Cal 36

This is probably the single most important thing I've heard yet. I didn't even know there were "good and bad" crimping tools. Westmarine offers a crimping tool by ancor - about $135. Considering the several hundred dollars spent on wire alone and the desire to not need to do this again in 2 or 3 years it sounds like it is well worth the money. Any other suggestions on a specific tool? Thanks for your comments Keith Cal-34 - Second Wind --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, yachtwire1@... wrote: > > Do NOT solder connections...a properly crimped connection, using tinned > stranded wire and tinned copper connectors will in effect be soldered by the > pressure of the crimp. The assumption being here, of course that you use a proper > ratcheting double crimp tool to make the crimps. The problem is that most > people use the inexpensive non-ratcheting tool, and don't get the proper amount > of pressure around the connector. Also, many folks only make one crimp, > instead of the two separate ones required for a proper job. > > Soldering turns the very flexible stranded wire into a solid conductor for a > short distance up the wire from the crimp, and a solid wire is forbidden by > the ABYC and USCG. I see soldered connections fail often. > > Best-Mark > > Mark & Terry Rogers > Mobile Marine Electrical Services, Inc. > "Seirenia" 1966 Cal 36 >

I got the racheting crimping tool that Ancor makes. It won't open until you've crimped the connector tightly enough. You can get them for less money from sources like Hamilton Marine and Jamestown Distributors. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96 On May 16, 2006, at 7:28 AM, kvcpls wrote: > This is probably the single most important thing I've heard yet. I > didn't even know there were "good and bad" crimping tools. > Westmarine offers a crimping tool by ancor - about $135. > Considering the several hundred dollars spent on wire alone and the > desire to not need to do this again in 2 or 3 years it sounds like > it is well worth the money. Any other suggestions on a specific > tool? > > Thanks for your comments > > Keith > Cal-34 - Second Wind > > --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, yachtwire1@... wrote: > > > > Do NOT solder connections...a properly crimped connection, using > tinned > > stranded wire and tinned copper connectors will in effect be > soldered by the > > pressure of the crimp. The assumption being here, of course that > you use a proper > > ratcheting double crimp tool to make the crimps. The problem is > that most > > people use the inexpensive non-ratcheting tool, and don't get the > proper amount > > of pressure around the connector. Also, many folks only make one > crimp, > > instead of the two separate ones required for a proper job. > > > > Soldering turns the very flexible stranded wire into a solid > conductor for a > > short distance up the wire from the crimp, and a solid wire is > forbidden by > > the ABYC and USCG. I see soldered connections fail often. > > > > Best-Mark > > > > Mark & Terry Rogers > > Mobile Marine Electrical Services, Inc. > > "Seirenia" 1966 Cal 36 > > > > > > > > > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > Visit your group "Cal_Boats" on the web. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > >