Crimping Tool Suggestions

mullinax95 said

I don't crimp anything as far as wiring... solder and heat shrink is all I use. Now for spark plug wires I use a Summit Racing brand spark plug wire crimps. I have used the above crimps to make up spark plug wires but to have the right tool makes a world of difference.

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A properly done crimp connection is actually better than a soldered connection (look how well all the crimped connections on your car have stood up after 40 or more years, soldered ones won't have). When you solder stranded wire it becomes for practical purposes a single conductor that is subject to fatigue and fracturing. Crimp terminals include a strand relief feature in them where the insulation is supported. If you are going to solder connections it is imperative that you add a strain relief and a layer of heat shrink doesn't cut it, maybe 4 or 5 layers will work.

I am an engineer in the aero space and defense industry and most all wire terminals to connectors are crimped (even space and ordinace items). Anything that is soldered is also potted in epoxy to prevent facturing at the solder connection. Even wires terminating onto circuit boards are routed through a support hole then into the solder connection. The wire is then covered with an eposxy or RTV material to add additional support.