Rant: I always thought the cheap crimpers from the hardware store were fine until a connector popped off a job in the rain.

I switched to a Klein Tools VDV226-110 ratcheting crimper for $65 and haven't had a single fail since, so what's your go-to tool for weatherproof connections?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean_robinson2mo ago

Honestly, the crimper is only half the battle. If you're getting water inside the connector itself, you need a proper sealant gel or heat shrink with adhesive lining. A good crimp on a bad seal still fails.

troy_smith462mo ago

Man, why is it always the rain that shows up your bad work? I learned that the hard way after my "good enough" crimp turned into a sprinkler system. Sean's totally right about the seal though, my first fix was just more crimping like an idiot. Now I'm all about that adhesive heat shrink, it covers for my shaky hands.

terry_mitchell3d ago

Water intrusion is a real pain but sometimes people act like every connection needs to be NASA grade. @sean_robinson makes a good point about seals but a basic crimp works fine for most indoor stuff if your wire isn't exposed. Just dont go telling me I need gel for a ceiling fan splice.