What Features to Look For When Buying Wire Connectors
When shopping for wire connectors, you will probably not think much of their differentiating features. However, it is important to be mindful of the different features available as they can impact the quality and price of the wire connectors you intend to buy.
To save you time and money, we've put together a guide on what features to look for when buying wire connectors to save you time and money. Let’s get started!
Type of Wire Connector
You first need to understand that not all wire connectors are created equal. There are several types of wire connectors available on the market, each designed for a specific purpose.
You must know which type of connector you need before making your purchase, as the wrong type could damage your project or be completely useless.
Butt Connectors
The most common type of wire connector is the butt connector. As its name suggests, this type of connector joins two wires end-to-end. Butt connectors are available in both insulated and non-insulated varieties and can be used for joining both stranded and solid core wires.
Ring Connectors
Ring connectors, also known as "ring terminal lugs," are commonly used in electrical installations where a bare wire needs to be terminated. This type of connector is placed over the end of the wire and then crimped or soldered in place. Ring terminals are available in different sizes to accommodate wires of different gauges.
Spade Connectors
Spade connectors feature a blade inserted into a wire's insulation to make contact with the metal conductor inside. They are most commonly used to terminate wires onto screw terminals and lugs.
Fork Connectors
Fork connectors are also known as "Y" connectors. Their design features two blades that pierce through the insulation of wires to make contact with the metal conductor inside. They can be used to connect two or more wires together.
Thankfully, you can already find butt, ring, spade, and fork connectors in our store. Here are some of the feedback we got from our customers:
Materials Used
Knowing what material is used for the wire connectors is crucial since this will affect both their price and quality.
Copper
The most common material used for wire connectors is copper. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and is also very resistant to corrosion. However, copper is a relatively soft metal, which means that it can be easily damaged if not handled carefully.
Fortunately, most of our connectors are made of high quality and thick copper, which our customers love! Here’s one of our customers’ comments on our copper material:
Aluminum
Another popular material used for wire connectors is aluminum. Aluminum is also a good conductor of electricity and is less expensive than copper. However, aluminum is more susceptible to corrosion than copper and can also be damaged more easily.
Brass
Brass is another material that is sometimes used for wire connectors. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, which makes it more durable than pure copper. However, brass is also more expensive than both copper and aluminum.
Method of Connecting
There are different methods of connecting wires. It pays to be familiar with them because your project may need to be done a certain way. Additionally, some wire connectors, like ours, are designed specifically for certain methods.
Twisting and Taping
The most common method of connecting two wires is twisting them together and wrapping electrical tape around the connection. This is a fast way to connect two wires, but it is not very secure or reliable in the long run.
Over time, the tape will degrade and loosen, causing the connection to become weaker until it eventually breaks.
Solder Seal Wire Connectors
Soldering is the process of using a filler metal to join two pieces of metal together. This is usually done by heating the metals until the filler melts and then cooling it so that the joint becomes solid again.
We have a selection of wire connectors designed for soldering. They’re waterproof and use high-quality materials for soldering. If you don’t believe us, here are some of the positives reviews from our customers:
Heat Shrinking
Heat shrink refers to using heat to shrink a tube or ring so that it becomes tighter around an object. This is usually done to create a seal or provide extra insulation around something.
Many of our products revolve around the method of heat shrinking. Here are what people had to say about our heat shrink connectors:
Crimping
Crimping is the term for fastening two pieces together by deforming one or both of them with a tool. This is typically done by pinching metal together so that it holds more securely than if the two pieces were simply pressed together.
For your convenience, we also offer crimping tools that work well with our wire connectors. Some of our customers really love how they function:
Safety Compliance
For those who are just starting out on their home improvement journey, it is always best to seek out products that have been safety certified. This means that the product has met certain safety guidelines and standards set by an independent organization.
For instance, ROHS compliance means that the product does not contain any harmful substances that can potentially leach into food or water.
Another standard is one set by CE (Conformité Européenne). CE is a conformity marking that indicates that the product has been assessed by the manufacturer and meets EU safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
The good news is that our wire connectors are compliant with ROHS, ISO 9001: 2008, SGS and CE standards.
Our customers have also raved about how safe our products were:
Check Out Our Store!
Now that we've given you an overview of the important features to consider, you can make an informed decision when it comes to wire connectors. So, why not put this new-found wisdom to the test by checking out our store? We offer a wide range of high-quality wire connectors at competitive prices!
Visit our Online Shop
Visit our Amazon Store