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Bullet or Spade Wire Connectors?
scootz - 3/9/10 at 12:03 PM

Is one 'better' than the other, or more 'secure'?

2cv - 3/9/10 at 12:27 PM

Apart from where I could use plugs and sockets to join wires, I've always used soldered bullet connectors. Spade connectors, I've only fitted to components having male spades such as relays, fuse boxes etc.

Having said that, I don't like bullet connectors for the following reasons;
They suffer from corrosion
Are difficult to separate
Sometimes so much force is needed, the wire breaks.

I have a feeling that using a male and female spade with the correct plasic covers will actually be better in all respects than bullet connectors.

mangogrooveworkshop - 3/9/10 at 12:33 PM

Scott
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Wiring speak to Alan

Danozeman - 3/9/10 at 01:02 PM

I dont think one is better than the other. Just depends what you prefer. The better way is to twist and solder with no connector.

I personally find bullets easier to work with but if you look at car manufacters they use spades where there isnt a proper connector.

02GF74 - 3/9/10 at 01:34 PM

+ spades take less room due to the large insulating cylinder for bullets.

land rover used bullet connectors with no end of problems with corrosion, as mentioned, wires being pulled out etc.

Plus need special crimp tool to fit as well as limiting on wire sizes - you can use the cheop crimp tools but it is not ideal.

Now I only used spades for the above reasons plus they are handed - male/female so less likley to make error fitting, unlike bullets.

scootz - 3/9/10 at 04:36 PM

Cheers guys!

2cv - 3/9/10 at 05:14 PM

quote: The better way is to twist and solder with no connector.

The whole point of fitting a connector is to be able to easily demount a component such as a lamp etc. And then just as easily refit it. In my view, this should not involve a soldering iron each time.

RK - 4/9/10 at 01:01 PM

I have had trouble with each of them. Some of the spades looked good, then the crimping came apart. Spades came off my instruments too, which has been a real pain in the duff. The bullets are my preferred way now. It is an excellent question!!

2cv - 4/9/10 at 01:52 PM 

code:
I have had trouble with each of them. Some of the spades looked good, then the crimping came apart. Spades came off my instruments too, which
has been a real pain in the duff. The bullets are my preferred way now. It is an excellent question!!


Unless you have a professional grade crimping tool it has to be better to solder. Soldered joints will not pull apart.

You are right, it is an excellent question. It has got me thinking that if I were doing another wiring job I'd try to eliminate bullet connectors completely for the reasons I gave earlier. I'd try to make more use of weatherproof plugs and sockets and male/female spade connectors.

scootz - 4/9/10 at 01:57 PM

What kind of weather-proof plugs were you thinking of... ???

2cv - 4/9/10 at 04:21 PM

Vehicle Wiring Products do a good range of multi-connectors some of which are weatherproof.

I don't know how to do the linky thing but this will take you there:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/connectors/multiconnectors.php

Steve Hignett - 4/9/10 at 04:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
+ spades take less room due to the large insulating cylinder for bullets.

The conectors I have are virtually the same size for spade and bullet, well the spades are a bit bigger.

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
land rover used bullet connectors with no end of problems with corrosion, as mentioned, wires being pulled out etc.

Land Rovers had problems with corrosion all over!

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
Plus need special crimp tool to fit as well as limiting on wire sizes - you can use the cheap crimp tools but it is not ideal.

The only way to get a decent join on crimped connectors whether spades or bullets is to use a decent crimper - it just so happens that mine does both as they are the same?

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
Now I only used spades for the above reasons plus they are handed - male/female so less likley to make error fitting, unlike bullets.

I really must be thinking of different things as the Bullet connectors I have join together using a Male and a Female, just like the spades???

Not sure about any of your points at all - Unless, and this is quite likely as wiring is not my forte!, I've got the wrong end of the stick about the OP's question and don't know what a bullet connector is.

To OP, personally I'd use insulated bullets as they are harder to pull apart, both intentionally and not, and therefore a better choice IMHuO...

scootz - 4/9/10 at 04:34 PM

Ta muchly!