Joining very thin N0183 cables

[slawosz]

Hi,
I need to input GPS to my radio, and sadly, the cables by GPS source (chartplotter) are very thin. What do you suggest in such case - I cant put terminal on the cable not sure if Wago is good here. Tiny chocolate block or something else? Bonus question - would longer cable (say 2 meter) could cause any interference with N0183 signal?

 

[masterofnone]

Try these. 10 Pack 2 Wire Telephone JELLY CRIMPS Telecom Connector BT Cable Repair Splicer 5055606404443 | eBay

 

[GHA]

you could try soldering a larger wire to the data cable then several layers of heatshrink.

 

[Tranona]

I have used choc strips as they came with the NASA speed readout which takes its GPS signal from a Garmin 128. You can see the connection to the left of the instrument in the photo. Also using choc strip for the 0183 between the Garmin and a yet to be fitted AIS receiver, also visible on the board just below the Garmin. However think that a Wago would work just as well.

 

[gregcope]

I have used wago 221-212’s for similar in a wiska 308 box. The glands offer strain relief and it is IP67 rated.

 

[robmcg]

Try these. 10 Pack 2 Wire Telephone JELLY CRIMPS Telecom Connector BT Cable Repair Splicer 5055606404443 | eBay

What he says. They are really good.

 

[John the kiwi]

Plus 1 for Wago!
If this doesn't suit, top tip i learned on a forum somewhere was to put the very fine wire together with bigger wire in the same side of a crimp connector. Heat shrink over both wires means the larger wire lends some strain relief to the smaller wire as well.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Telephone crimps are rubbish here.

Wagos will work.

Or, strip back 20mm of insulation. swist the two wires together, fold then double and crimp with a red, insulated crimp connector, add a bit of heatshrink.

 

[greeny]

Try these. 10 Pack 2 Wire Telephone JELLY CRIMPS Telecom Connector BT Cable Repair Splicer 5055606404443 | eBay

+1 that's what I use for all thin wire applications on the boat. Easy to use and they waterproof the joint. I know you're not supposed to but I've used them on both single core (at home) and multistrand with good results. The only downside is that they are permanent and have to be cut off if you want to disconnect for any reason. Leave plenty of length on the tails for this purpose.

 

[Poignard]

I have used 'Bootlace Ferrules' successfully in conjunction with good - quality screw terminal blocks.

RS PRO Insulated Crimp Bootlace Ferrule, 8mm Pin Length, 1.3mm Pin Diameter, 0.5mm² Wire Size, White | RS

 

[KAM]

Just twist and solder. Doesn't cost anything and never fails. Never had a problem with NMEA signals.

 

[Daverw]

I just used wagos

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'll say it again, those telephone connectors are the wrong thing to use. They are IDC connectors for telephone cable, they work the same way as Scotchlok connectors. If you use them on fine, multi strand cable they mostly displace the strands, rather than gripping them. They can also cut through some of the strands.

Lots of acceptable way to join thin wires, several already posted in this thread.

 

[robmcg]

I'll say it again, those telephone connectors are the wrong thing to use. They are IDC connectors for telephone cable, they work the same way as Scotchlok connectors. If you use them on fine, multi strand cable they mostly displace the strands, rather than gripping them. They can also cut through some of the strands.

Lots of acceptable way to join thin wires, several already posted in this thread.

I've used them for about 17 years over 4 boats and had zero problem with them. They just work really well in my experience.

 

[skedaddle]

To reiterate and expand a little on what Paul Rainbow posted.



These IDC style connectors are manufactured to connect exact gauges of solid conductor wire. They are usually Colour Coded for the exact size of conductor they are dimensioned to be used on.

eg- use the wrong size:- too small in relation to the conductor, you risk cutting the conductor or partially cutting the conductor, reducing the cross sectional area and causing a high resistance joint. Conversely too larger connector in relation to the conductor, you will not get sufficient grip on the conductor. Once again a potential high resistance joint or a intermittent connection.

All the above is exacerbated by using a multi-strand conductor

The secondary issue is that this type of connector is designed to be crimped by a set of Parallel Jaw pliers so that the button is seated square with the body of the connector all the way thru the crimping motion. If the button is crimped skewed it may cut the connector, even if it is later corrected by re-crimping.



While they can be made to connect Multi strand conductors it was never their design purpose.



As some-one who in past, at times used these types of connectors at a rate of more a thousand a week over close to a decade. I do not use them on my boat or any boat I have ever owned.



Mike

 

[Travelling Westerly]

I have used 'Bootlace Ferrules' successfully in conjunction with good - quality screw terminal blocks.

RS PRO Insulated Crimp Bootlace Ferrule, 8mm Pin Length, 1.3mm Pin Diameter, 0.5mm² Wire Size, White | RS

Thats what my offshore instrument techs do. I do the same and then use a Wago block

 

[Daydream believer]

I have used 'Bootlace Ferrules' successfully in conjunction with good - quality screw terminal blocks.

I use similar. But whilst I have been told on this forum not to; I solder thin wires into the bootlace terminal. I feel that this tends to prevent over crushing the end & breaking the wire when it is crimped or placed into the terminal block. It is easy to over tighten a choc box at some time in the future when looking for a bad connection. Thus crushing the end so much that it could possibly cut the thin wire

 

[Daydream believer]

As some-one who in past, at times used these types of connectors at a rate of more a thousand a week over close to a decade.

So you are the bloke who keeps b..gering up my phone line & cutting half our village off every month
Not to mention blocking the lane with your blasted van

 

[Refueler]

Before I started creating my own RC Gear cables - they often use fine grade as well ..... I used to use the smallest Choc Block I could find. I would then double side tape or Hot Glue the block to back of the unit - so that the fine wires then were not strained in anyway by Choc Block being free to move etc.

If that was not possible - then smallest ID heat shrink was slid over the wire of a length that covered whole wire even just into the choc block .... no need to shrink, just let it support the wire. Or as Paul said - strip decent length of each wire .... slide on a decent length of heat shrink ... twist wires together and then shrink the heat shrink over the top. If you really want to make sure they can never pull apart without soldering ... drop of CA into heat shrink tube ends immediately before shrinking.

Later when I had the gear for RC cables - I can use crimped servo plugs that have gold pins etc. If I can trust an expensive model in air / on water with such ... it will do my VHF / GPS etc.

 

[Refueler]

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Years ago - I used Telephone plugs / sockets and multi cables to network my gear on board ..... it worked for many years without fault. It even had extra output that had a USB connector on end for anyone else who was on board and wanted data .... I only replaced it when I upgraded my gear and it was no longer needed.