T-Tap (a Scotchlok product by 3M) is an insulation displacement connector on
one wire only. The other connection to the circuit is by a male spade terminal
plugged into the stem of the Tee.
<http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Marine/Home/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE20S4K7_nid=GS3MTHGQSCbeVB2NDGZBTHgl>
shows the T-Tap. It doesn't show how the male spade plugs in, but it would go
into the flag sticking away from the wire in the picture. The traditional
Scotchlok breaks the insulation on two parallel wires and connects them
together.
Personally, I'd try to go with stripping and crimping wherever possible.
Soldering will put a stress riser at the joint - wire strands will break where
they leave the solder (where they get bent sharply). The crimps support the
strands through the transition from constrained to free much better.
Does that help?
Donald.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Trovato" <strovato@optonline.net>
To: "Shop Talk List" <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 1, 2010 12:47:58 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [Shop-talk] Scotch-locks and T-Taps
Hello all and Happy New Year. I am getting ready to install a remote
car start unit. The installation manual says:
If you use tapping connectors such as T-Taps (not to be confused with
Scotch-locks), avoid using them in higher-current applications
(constant 12V, ground, etc.) These connectors are inferior in
quality and should be avoided.
So, can someone tell me the difference between T-Taps and
Scotch-locks? I always thought that "Scotchlok" was just 3M's brand
name for T-Taps. I can find lots of arguments online about how
soldering is better. In the discussions, it seems that many people
seem to agree with my manual, and they treat scotch-locks and T-Taps
as different things. Can anybody clear this up for me? Thanks.
-Steve Trovato
strovato@optonline.net
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