What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

[minuteman62-64]

.... to fasten together four #16 wires? I'm used to working w/wire nuts where there is info on the number of various sizes of wires that can be attached. The crimp connectors I can find at Kragen/hardware store don't have this sort of info.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

I use these...Not from this source, but its the type I use for everything spliced...Wire nuts overheat and get loose in my industry...

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

.... to fasten together four #16 wires? I'm used to working w/wire nuts where there is info on the number of various sizes of wires that can be attached. The crimp connectors I can find at Kragen/hardware store don't have this sort of info.

Please don't use kragen connectors. Are the four wires connect like you would in a wire nut or are you doing 2 in and 2 out in a butt connection?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

Please don't use kragen connectors. Are the four wires connect like you would in a wire nut or are you doing 2 in and 2 out in a butt connection?

I'm actually doing one in and three out - so I figured just connecting like I would with a wire nut would make the most sense.

If the Ideal connectors, referenced by hrdwrkingacguy, are good, I can get them at Home Depot.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

I'm actually doing one in and three out - so I figured just connecting like I would with a wire nut would make the most sense.

If the Ideal connectors, referenced by hrdwrkingacguy, are good, I can get them at Home Depot.

Lots of different connectors/connections will work. Some of it is a matter of personal preference. For the boat, I buy all tinned connectors with build in heat shrink. Ancor or 3M. For your type of connection, you could go 2 in and 2 out and just loop one of the wires back and tie wrap it in place.

You could also use cap connectors, but I would get tinned ones and then seal with adhesive lined shrink wrap.

There are other ways you could do it. You could solder all 4 wires together and then shrink the bundle supporting as recommended by ABYC or you could use a bus bar.

Are these all power lines, all grounds, etc?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

I should have been more specific. I'm wiring my trailer lights, and the wires in question are the white ground wires. It is one in and three out because I'm taking the ground stub wire from the trailer-side pin connector and, from it, running one wire to ground on the trailer and one wire down each side to ground directly at the lights (I'm tired of tracking down faulty ground connections and trying to eliminate/minimize this in the future). Anyways, that's how I get the one in-three out.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: What Size Crimp Connector Do I Need ...

I should have been more specific. I'm wiring my trailer lights, and the wires in question are the white ground wires. It is one in and three out because I'm taking the ground stub wire from the trailer-side pin connector and, from it, running one wire to ground on the trailer and one wire down each side to ground directly at the lights (I'm tired of tracking down faulty ground connections and trying to eliminate/minimize this in the future). Anyways, that's how I get the one in-three out.

For that you could get a terminal stud and mount it to the trailer. Or, since most of the connectors I have used have about 4 feet of white for ground you could run that to a point on the trailer, then run the other 2 wires to the same point. Use ring terminals and screw them all to the same spot on the trailer.

On my rewire I completely eliminated the grounding to the trailer. I also added some extra wires so I put in a junction box which has 10 terminals on it. 2 are used for my grounds (9 of them) and 6 of the others are used for the other 6 wires. I have 2 open if I need them later.