[Shop-talk] Scotch-locks and T-Taps

[Steven Trovato]

So, a T-Tap is an insulation displacement connector on one wire, used 
to connect to a spade terminal on another.  And the equivalent 
scotchlok is essentially two insulation displacement connectors in 
one, electrically connected together.  And in the common vernacular, 
none of this really has anything to do with whether or not either one 
is actually made by 3M.  One might then consider a T-Tap to be better 
because it is relying on only one insulation displacement connection, 
rather than two?  OK, I suppose if what I just said is correct, then 
I understand it now.  Thanks.

-Steve

At 02:41 PM 1/1/2010, Donald H Locker wrote:
>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.