Crimping versus Soldering

[bheintz]

ABYC frowns on the use of friction connectors (aka blade and bullet connectors). Essentially Friction connectors (the blade and bullet variety) are allowed, provided they resist a 6-pound pull.

Many engine sensors use blade connectors. Since the engine a pretty good source of vibration, is there a good method to prevent these blade connectors from loosening over time?

I've seen instances where wires are soldered to the directly to the blades - such as speaker connections.

Are connections like these preferable if there are soldered to the spade connections?

[hellosailor]

ja-
About the only way to save on quality connectors is to close your eyes, bite the bullet, and buy the box of 100 ps. instead of buying a couple at a time. The damn things are simply expensive no matter how you look at it. You may find a local "electrical supply house" carries the same grades for a little less than other sources. The best ones often have a seamless copper tube as an inner lining. That's not tinned, but a dab of silicone grease before you insert the wire accomplishes the same purpose. The seamless inner liner is supposed to provide a more uniform crimp than any type of "seamed" construction. Beyond that...you have to see what is offered and make your own choice about whether it is good enough.

bh-
Those blade connectors are not all the same. If you look carefully at a brand name like Fast-On, you'll usually see a dimple neaer the edge of the blade. When you snap their "qd" fittings together, a bump on one piece snaps down into the dimple on the other, making them much harder to pull apart. And preventing them from slipping apart, even with lots of vibration. That's part of the reason why they may be several times the cost of the "500 for $5" packs, they simply aren't all the same.

[redcobra]

Since I spent gobs of money on the boat, I am not going to skimp on a racheting crimper and the proper terms and shrink. I have been known to crimp, solder (rosin based), then shrink/seal. Then I lace a loom on multiple connections such as the DC panel.