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25-05-2018, 16:15
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#1
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Can i double over wire and crimp it?
about to get started with LED upgrade project and as many of you know the LED wire coming from the fixture is very small diameter. i need to crimp that onto 14 gauge wire. can i just strip back a bunch of insulation on the LED wire, fold it over one or two times and crimp it into the 14 gauge crimp or is that a big NO NO?
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25-05-2018, 16:26
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lake Ont
Posts: 8,547
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by er9
about to get started with LED upgrade project and as many of you know the LED wire coming from the fixture is very small diameter. i need to crimp that onto 14 gauge wire. can i just strip back a bunch of insulation on the LED wire, fold it over one or two times and crimp it into the 14 gauge crimp or is that a big NO NO?
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The problem is that even doubled or tripled, the thin wire from the LED may still not come up to the same thickness of a #14 wire.
I like to use the cap style of crimp for that application.
... you just twist the wires together, then crimp on the best-fitting cap. You can waterproof by dripping glue or sealant into the one open end.
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25-05-2018, 16:31
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
I will fold it back over it’s insulation and crimp it. The insulation adds significant strength and of course diameter. I have never had an issue of it not making good electrical contact.
I would not do this for anything that can pull significant current, for obvious reasons.
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25-05-2018, 16:41
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#4
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
thanks fellas....appreciate the advice. i have never seen those cap crimps before. nifty little crimp.
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25-05-2018, 17:38
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#5
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,242
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Depending on the actual size of the LED wire (often somewhere 22 and 26 gauge), you can fold it over once or twice as you suggest and then red crimp (16 to 22 gauge) for the folded section and cut a few strands from the 14 gauge wire to fit into the red crimp.
I don't like crimping onto any insulation but I am not denying that it won't work as a65pilot confirms.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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25-05-2018, 18:19
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#6
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname
Depending on the actual size of the LED wire (often somewhere 22 and 26 gauge), you can fold it over once or twice as you suggest and then red crimp (16 to 22 gauge) for the folded section and cut a few strands from the 14 gauge wire to fit into the red crimp.
I don't like crimping onto any insulation but I am not denying that it won't work as a65pilot confirms.
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thats a good idea,didnt think of that. i'd like to start this weekend and dont feel like waiting another week to order caps. red crimps i do have a ton of though.
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25-05-2018, 19:05
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: canada
Posts: 4,634
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
you can also buy reducing butt crimps that are blue on one side and red on the other.
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25-05-2018, 19:55
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#8
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by smac999
you can also buy reducing butt crimps that are blue on one side and red on the other.
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yeah looked for them at west marine but didnt see them.
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25-05-2018, 20:30
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#9
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,560
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by er9
thats a good idea,didnt think of that. i'd like to start this weekend and dont feel like waiting another week to order caps. red crimps i do have a ton of though.
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They should have caps at Home Depot or anywhere. Not a special item.
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26-05-2018, 07:53
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#10
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thinwater
They should have caps at Home Depot or anywhere. Not a special item.
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good to know i will go take a look today. i thought those might be special for marine environment.
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26-05-2018, 08:11
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
You can twist the two different size wires together and crimp into one end of a butt splice connector; then seal the other end with liquid electrical tape.
Don't fold it over insulation as that will create a high resistance connection that could start a fire.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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26-05-2018, 08:28
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#12
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terra Nova
You can twist the two different size wires together and crimp into one end of a butt splice connector; then seal the other end with liquid electrical tape.
Don't fold it over insulation as that will create a high resistance connection that could start a fire.
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DUH! lol why didnt i think of that? thats why i love these forums. so much experience to draw from. if i did this should i/ would it also be prudent to heat shrink the end as well or is that way overkill?
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26-05-2018, 08:33
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by er9
thanks fellas....appreciate the advice. i have never seen those cap crimps before. nifty little crimp.
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In the AC application, they are call "marrettes". You have hundreds in your house wiring.
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26-05-2018, 09:00
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BC
Boat: O'Day 40
Posts: 1,082
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
Marrettes are a no-no in marine applications.
They can easily end up with the open end up and then any moisture, especially in salty environments, will collect in them and corrode the wires.
When I bought our boat I found a half dozen and 3 or 4 had corroded.
I bought a bunch of the 2 size butt connectors but the twist and crimp should be good and it's cheaper too.
__________________
Trying to make new mistakes.
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26-05-2018, 09:16
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 4
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Re: Can i double over wire and crimp it?
I prefer to strip back both wires, join them together with a western union splice, which is just a reverse twist on it's self, solder with a good grade of rosin core solder, slide a piece of the correct size shrink tubing (you have already slid on before you connected the wires), use one of the bbq lighters to shrink the tube the full length, it is amazing how much it shrinks, you now have a connection that is electricity and structurally and water proof.
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