Help with soldering splices

[scott011422]

I could use some help. Quite often I find myself tapping into a harness for a signal. 99% of the time I'll solder the wire onto the wire I'm tapping. What I don't like is covering the splice once I'm done.

Electrical tape works for a while, then starts to unravel leaving this black sticky goo.

My other, and preferred method is to sever the source wire, slide on some heat shrink, solder the source wire back together while adding the new wire. Then once the splice has cooled, Sliding the tubing over the splice and applying heat to seal and cover the splice.

While this method is the most reliable, I'm never crazy about severing the source wire, especially when it is a signal wire for a plc, control, or data cable that can be sensitive to added resistance or voltage drop from the added resistance.

What else can I do to cover my soldered splice? I've seen a Scotch loc type of clamshell cover in the shape of a "T" that snaps over the joint, but the company was unwilling to name their supplier. I dunno. Any ideas???

 

[likeguymontag]

Plasti-dip or liquid tape? There's liquid tape in the automotive section of my local walmart that some hooligans have kindly sprayed all over the display.

Maybe fold in half the wire you're splicing into so that all three insulated segments point the same direction. Then slip heat shrink over the bare ends.

 

[scott011422]

Plasti-dip or liquid tape? There's liquid tape in the automotive section of my local walmart that some hooligans have kindly sprayed all over the display.

Maybe fold in half the wire you're splicing into so that all three insulated segments point the same direction. Then slip heat shrink over the bare ends.

Both good ideas, But when dealing with harnesses, the liquid tape would make a mess over the other wires in the lum.

I have used the fold over method a few times, but is not pratical for harnesses being most of the time the wires are pulled quite tight. Your usally lucky to have enough slack to wiggle a wire stripper betweent he wire in question and the rest of the lum.

 

[likeguymontag]

Um... inductive coupling and some signal processing?

 

[DonShock]

There is a style of electrical tape that doesn't use glue. It is usually called self vulcanizing, self sealing, or stretch and seal. The tape sticks to itself and in a relatively short time becomes one solid piece. You can't unravel it and it has to be cut off like heat shrink does. It can be difficult to remove because it seals so well, but usually leaves no residue.

Here's one link:
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/DF-250/STRETCH-N-SEAL-COLD-SHRINK-TAPE/-/1.html

 

[Illum]

two wire soldering is best to step it out, or your going to have a big ball of electrical tape and signal static.

If I understand you correctly your trying to solder in a third wire in, like a T shaped junction? then solder the contact parallel with the source wire, leave some slack by making a loop opposite the solder direction then use a enough electrical tape to tie it off, hasn't failed for me...as long as your not running it as transmission wiring. heat + electrical tape = sticky, use heatshrink or coldshrink tape

 

[65535]

Rubber splice tape works well, but I have had it dry out, although that was outside where the tape was left to nature.

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

that wrap'n seal stuff is cool! i'll have to look for some next time I'm wandering around wallyworld or home d-pot

 

[gyxile]

why not just use the heat shrink tubing