What your business needs to know about splice connectors
May 20, 2021
It may make you giggle, but these surprisingly cheap and eminently handy little gizmos are also known as butt connectors – which may well explain why most marketing will in fact refer to them as splice connectors. But irrespective of the name, it’s an indispensable and arguably irreplaceable little connector when working with electrical systems across the full industry spectrum. In a nutshell, it’s still the easiest, simplest and most effective way to connect and secure two wire-ends together without performing a solder.
Yes, a solder is the most permanent solution – and far superior to creating a bond with electrical tape or just twisting those stripped wire ends together. For speed, cost, user-safety and convenience, though – especially for ever-changing electrical circuits or fast-moving workplaces relying on ‘on the go’ maintenance, there’s really nothing quite like the splice connector.
The most basic and common version could barely be simpler – in fact, you can pick one up for much less than a single gold coin. On the inside, a sharp and ingenious insert not only performs the safe and efficient cut of the two wires’ insulating cover – it also crimps them together in a single snap. When the splice connector is then secured, the wire connection will be complete and reliable.
For so many businesses and unique applications, the splice connector has become the only way to connect wires with minimal to no specialised training or instruction required. But the popularity of the solution isn’t just because of the ease and speed of use, as splice connectors are also highly flexible for a massive range of purposes.
The materials
For instance, you can find splice connectors that are made of a range of different conductive materials – depending on the intended use. Tin-plated copper is one such popular splice connector material due to its low cost and wide range of effective applications whilst being resistant to corrosion and easy to crimp. For higher temperature applications, though, more expensive nickel-plated steel may be the better choice, and you might also need the connector itself to be finished with an insulating jacket. In the very high or low temperature setting, a nylon jacket will be less prone to cracking, while for most other applications, the less expensive vinyl will suffice.
The insulating jacket
In other applications, an insulating jacket may not be necessary – or may, in fact, be a hindrance when the new user needs the ability to actually peer into the connector to ensure the crimp has been completed successfully. Then there are the splice connectors with highly effective brazed connectors, which while costing a little more are easier to use while providing stronger connections than the cheaper butted-seam connectors.
Specialty features
There are also specialty versions of splice connectors on the market for especially high-temperature applications (like engines or motors) where melting or warping may be an issue, outdoor or wet applications with silicone features to keep moisture and other debris away from the connection, and various other specific issues and purposes. While modern splice connectors could become the cheap and easy solution of choice for your particular electrical systems, choosing the right kind is the key to maximising their safety, effectiveness and reliability – so always seek the guidance of experts.
