gell filled connectors

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pcatterall

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Just looking at the ( illuminating) PBO test on the various connectors. Those Gel filled ones looked great. Though I read on here but cant find thread that some of you thought the non insulated tube crimps were good provide a heat shrink was used ?

I see on eBay that BT gel filled crimps can be bought but are these for very small wire?

Is there colour coding on these crimps ie. red, blue, yellow to indicate different sizes?

Where can I buy these for general boat wiring work ( IE to carry in my tool kit) ?

Thanks guys
 
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From memory (and things may have changed) those things are not crimps at all but more akin to Scotchlocks that have a blade which slices the insulation and contact the conductor, designed for solid cable as they are they used to damage and even part multi strand conductors, though cheap they are not at all good, especially when subject to vibration. Proper crimp butt joints are much better and more robust, either the type with adhesive lined heat shrink or plain ones with heat shrink added, though of course they take time and tools to apply which is probably why BT use those horrid things instead.
 
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David2452 said:
From memory (and things may have changed) those things are not crimps at all but more akin to Scotchlocks that have a blade which slices the insulation and contact the conductor, designed for solid cable as they are they used to damage and even part multi strand conductors, though cheap they are not at all good, especially when subject to vibration. Proper crimp butt joints are much better and more robust, either the type with adhesive lined heat shrink or plain ones with heat shrink added, though of course they take time and tools to apply which is probably why BT use those horrid things instead.
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They might be horrid, but Raymarine supply them and recommend their use when wiring some of their kit.
.
 
There is something very odd about the values they report. The resistance quoted on every one of them is the same when made up, 39.8 mili-ohms, possible I suppose but seems unlikely. After a month in a salt spray cabinet almost all have the same resistance, 48.6 mili-ohms, except for one unchanged at 39.8 mili-ohm, two at 53.1 and one at 4510.2 mili-ohm.
 
The gel filled crimp tubes are superb, for small gauge wire. We used them for crimping on detonators in multiple perforating guns and they coped with that level of vibration...
 
pvb said:
They might be horrid, but Raymarine supply them and recommend their use when wiring some of their kit.
.
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Certainly used to but I haven't seen them in RM kit for a while and never in any other manufacturers, we have always thrown them away, as I said they are easy to fit and were/are probably included for that reason alone. What is certain is that they are not permitted under the standards I work to.
 
David2452 said:
From memory (and things may have changed) those things are not crimps at all but more akin to Scotchlocks that have a blade which slices the insulation and contact the conductor, designed for solid cable as they are they used to damage and even part multi strand conductors, though cheap they are not at all good, especially when subject to vibration. Proper crimp butt joints are much better and more robust, either the type with adhesive lined heat shrink or plain ones with heat shrink added, though of course they take time and tools to apply which is probably why BT use those horrid things instead.
Click to expand...

Can you get butt crimps for the very tiny instrument wire? I've not seen any. I have used the gel ones - yes bladed like mini Scotchloks - without problems so far but obviously you use n times as many!
 
David2452 said:
Certainly used to but I haven't seen them in RM kit for a while and never in any other manufacturers, we have always thrown them away, as I said they are easy to fit and were/are probably included for that reason alone. What is certain is that they are not permitted under the standards I work to.
Click to expand...

+ 1 ..... awful things ...... use butt crimp connectors with heat shrink with glue inside .... and a crimp tool that doesn't perforate the insulation on the crimp.
 
Troubadour said:
Can you get butt crimps for the very tiny instrument wire? I've not seen any. I have used the gel ones - yes bladed like mini Scotchloks - without problems so far but obviously you use n times as many!
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Yes, they go down to 0.5mm2 with heatshrink and really very tiny in uninsulated for use with your own heatshrink, this is what I normally use on < 0.75mm2. Though Tyco do make mini sizes which go down to 28AWG in adhesive lined heatshrink type, but they are only available in bulk.
 
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I have just finished rewiring my instruments and Chartplotter and I used the scotch lock gel filled connectors. It made it so simple. Absolutely perfect for me. I bought them from Amazon. 2 way, 3 way, inline. Can't remember the price exactly but I bought loads of them for about £10. Won't use anything else from now on. Thanks. Alan
 
David2452 said:
Certainly used to but I haven't seen them in RM kit for a while and never in any other manufacturers, we have always thrown them away, as I said they are easy to fit and were/are probably included for that reason alone. What is certain is that they are not permitted under the standards I work to.
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I think there's a risk of losing sight of the purpose of this forum - it's primarily geared to helping DIY boatowners sort their equipment. In that context, gel-filled connectors work well and are reasonably fit for purpose, as I and Laundryman can confirm. OK, they might not meet your particular standards, but most people would be very happy with the performance, convenience and moisture-proof quality.
 
PM me your address and I will mail you a handful of the BT ones.
I'm ex Openreach engineer and have a few boxes stashed away!!


pcatterall said:
Just looking at the ( illuminating) PBO test on the various connectors. Those Gel filled ones looked great. Though I read on here but cant find thread that some of you thought the non insulated tube crimps were good provide a heat shrink was used ?

I see on eBay that BT gel filled crimps can be bought but are these for very small wire?

Is there colour coding on these crimps ie. red, blue, yellow to indicate different sizes?

Where can I buy these for general boat wiring work ( IE to carry in my tool kit) ?

Thanks guys
Click to expand...
 
pcatterall said:
Is there colour coding on these crimps ie. red, blue, yellow to indicate different sizes?



Thanks guys
Click to expand...

No. Diffferent colours are usually from different manufacturers. The specs will tell you what wire size they are designed although some different colours from the same manufacturer may indicate type. 2 or 3 way, non break change-over etc
 
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pcatterall,

Your PM inbox is full, so unable to send messages to you.
I have sent some of the BT/OR connectors to you today, so let me know how you get on with them.
 
vyv_cox said:
There is something very odd about the values they report. The resistance quoted on every one of them is the same when made up, 39.8 mili-ohms, possible I suppose but seems unlikely. After a month in a salt spray cabinet almost all have the same resistance, 48.6 mili-ohms, except for one unchanged at 39.8 mili-ohm, two at 53.1 and one at 4510.2 mili-ohm.
Click to expand...

+1
I thought that the conclusions drawn in the article were not supported by the figures given. There seems to be little difference between the methods used and from my take on the text, only one sample of each method was used. The identicality of the readings would have got a knock-back from any of my lab supervisors when I was a student. Definitely a D-
 
pvb said:
I think there's a risk of losing sight of the purpose of this forum - it's primarily geared to helping DIY boatowners sort their equipment. In that context, gel-filled connectors work well and are reasonably fit for purpose, as I and Laundryman can confirm. OK, they might not meet your particular standards, but most people would be very happy with the performance, convenience and moisture-proof quality.
Click to expand...

Gez, a professional offers his advice freely and you have a go? I don't think it's him losing sight of the purpose of this forum!
 
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