Message-Id: <s7470f2b.004@ycc.com>
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 20:10:15 -0500
From: "Bill Gradwohl" <Bill@YCC.COM>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Re: Connectors
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Years ago, my father-in-law asked me to design a special burglar alarm system
for his vacation home in New Jersey. I sent him a list of parts to order from
several sources in his area, and within a few weeks he started installing the
system according to instructions and wiring diagrams I sent him. 
 
One day, I got a call from him telling me he had installed the system, but it
didn't work properly. We went over all the connections, but I couldn't figure
out what was wrong. I ended up purchasing all the same parts locally in Texas,
and wired it up to make sure my design wasn't at fault. 
 
My alarm system worked just as I thought it should. No amount of phone calls
managed to make his system operational. Since a family gathering was imminent,
we decided to cease all long distance testing. I would check it out personally
while I was up there. 
 
Since the subject of this email is connectors, you can already guess what the
problem was. Some of his connections were obviously bad from a considerable
distance. Others weren't as easily detected. Where I soldered the connections
together on my proof of concept model, he used wire nuts, crimp connectors,
twisted wire under screw terminals, etc. Once I got rid of his rats nest of
poorly laid out wiring, everything worked fine. 
 
It never occurred to me to use anything but a soldering iron on my alarm system.
It never occurred to him to use a soldering iron. I guess it boils down to using
what comes naturally to you. 
 
Since I know how to solder, when I look at a wiring diagram, I arrive at a
different interpretation of the schematic than someone who thinks in terms of
connectors. Where I may have a single continuous piece of wire from point A to
point D, someone else will have stop overs via connectors at points B and C. My
system will inherently be more reliable, as Bob Nuckoll's will agree, because I
have fewer points of failure. 
 
I believe Brent's comments are on the mark, but Bob Nuckoll's endorsement of
FASTON connectors is also worth noteing. IF DONE PROPERLY, nothing beats a
soldered connection. When you have to use a connector, or if you really want to
use a connector, then one that is PROPERLY DONE is also very reliable.  
 
I believe Brent and Bob are not really addressing the same issue, which is why
they are both correct. Brent strives, as I do, to eliminate as many connectors
as possible. Bob likes FASTON connectors and can make a convincing case for
them. They are not mutually exclusive views. 
 
I think someone once said something to the effect that if all you have is a
hammer, then ever job starts looking like a nail. Those builders that don't know
how to solder see only connector based solutions. That's a pity.  
 
Every builder will have to use some connectors. GET THE RIGHT TOOLS AND LEARN
HOW TO USE THEM to make good crimp connections. Crimping a quality connection
takes practice, and it doesn't hurt to have someone with experience demonstrate
how its done and what not to do for any particular connector system. I would
also urge builders to learn how to solder and to get the proper equipment for
the job. It will open up opportunities that weren't obvious previously.


Bill Gradwohl
IV-P Builder


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