Things to Know About Butt Splice Connectors

Connectors are devices that connect two or more circuits. A splice connector is a device made of plastic with sharp metal portions that are used to crimp the insulated plastic portion of wires, exposing the metal element inside. They are used to crimp two such wires together. Hence, they are also known as crimp connectors. Butt splice connectors are made of materials such as vinyl or nylon which are non-conductive and serve as insulation. They are used to repair or set a new wiring connection. This post discusses some pointers about butt splice connectors which may be helpful in the selection process in accordance with electric terminals.

Useful Pointers About Butt Splice Connectors

Before selecting a butt splice connector, you need to know its features such as material, heat shrink element, maximum voltage handling capacity, UL listing and rating, and so on. While this is an important aspect, here are a few more pointers which may ease your use and selection process.

• A butt splice connector helps connect two opposite wire ends and can splice even multi-wire cables. This helps form one single long wire connection or an extension.
• Butt splice connectors are color coded based on the wire gauge. For instance, yellow is for 10-12 AWG, blue for 14-16 AWG, and red for 18-22 AWG.
• Most of these connectors can handle voltages up to 600v and made of nylon which is a sturdy plastic. Vinyl is also a good and economical alternative. The conductive material is mostly copper or sometimes steel with nickel plating.
• Heat shrink is a feature wherein the splice connector is sealed with an adhesive. These are resistant to high temperatures and used in outdoor applications or harsh industrial environments. This adhesive also prevents the entry of moisture, dust, or any contaminant to enter the connector.
• Using a butt splice connector makes it easy to crimp the wires without using heat, soldering, or any other process. All one needs to do is simply put the ends of both wires in the butt connector and crimp.
• While most butt splice connectors are insulated, some may not have any insulation. These are quite economical and you can actually see if the wires crimp well.
• There are specialty butt connectors for very high temperature applications. They are designed to withstand heat up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
• There are solder splice connectors too. These connectors actually crimp the wires and seal them using heat. They come with an in-built solder and heat shrink feature.
• It is crucial to crimp the wires well as this also helps corrosion and rusting in the long run. Hence, choosing the right butt splice connector is crucial.

Butt splice connectors are must-have tools if you are an electrician or a network administrator or any professional dealing with electrical terminals and circuits across industries. Whether you need to choose the required type of electrical terminals or butt splice connectors, ensure you source them from reliable manufacturers and suppliers. Also make sure the devices are certified UL listed, and meet the required industry standards. Electrical Basics is one such player that supplies various electrical accessories including electrical terminals and butt splice connectors. They offer good quality products used for wire termination, routing, and management.