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[Kevin Wood]

The problem with scotchloks is that you pierce the insulation on the cable without sealing it again, so there is the potential for moisture to get into the cable and corrosion starts to occur. You also have only a small contact patch with the conductor, so the current carrying capacity of the connection is questionable. Maybe not an issue if you know whatever you are connecting is going to take very little current.

They are a bodge, without doubt.

[Nick W]

Not going to disagree with the Soldering side, especially if the splice is to be bundled back in tight spaces or pulled or pushed back through a hole etc, also allows good weather proofing when wrapped with Self Amalgamating Tape and Heat Shrink / PVC, but the biggest problem is (no offence meant to anyone) some people cant solder for love or money. 

Lots of people can't solder for love nor money, which is why most critical connectors these days are crimped. It's much easier to do a consistently reliable and effective crimp, especially if you're doing it up behind a dash. Soldering if done properly is still a good technique but it does have limitations.

[Kevin Wood]

Crimping is, in most respects, better in an automotive application as it can deal with flexing and vibration better than a soldered joint - if done properly and a decent connector with decent seals is used. Vehicle looms are crimped together without exception and failures are pretty rare these days.

But then.. lots of people can't crimp for love nor money - or they do it with a tool they purchased from a pound shop.

[amba]

So just to be quite clear here guys.

Cables can be joined by "crimping" without cutting into the existing cable ? without risk of bad connections and not using scotchlocks...what sort of connecter is used then as this sounds easier thatn soldering and less likely to be an issue over a scotchlock type

[Kevin Wood]

So just to be quite clear here guys.

Cables can be joined by "crimping" without cutting into the existing cable ? without risk of bad connections and not using scotchlocks...what sort of connecter is used then as this sounds easier thatn soldering and less likely to be an issue over a scotchlock type

No.. Sorry - we were rambling. In your position, soldering is the best bet, IMHO.

[Broomies Mate]

No reason at all why you shouldn't cut the cable and use crimp connectors to give you the feed you need.

If you are not happy with soldering, especially when on your back soldering uphill behind the fusebox, then I'd be using crimps all day long.

Scotchlocks are the work of the Devil.

[amba]

Soldering doesn,t worry me as quite handy with a soldering iron,however unsure what you mean by crimping to get a connection on an uncut wire..or am I missing something here.?

Scotchlocks seem to be a "no go"  ...cutting the wire/joining a lead into it with solder and rejoing with heatshrink I understand. ..but "crimping" ??

[Broomies Mate]

Soldering doesn,t worry me as quite handy with a soldering iron,however unsure what you mean by crimping to get a connection on an uncut wire..or am I missing something here.?

Scotchlocks seem to be a "no go"  ...cutting the wire/joining a lead into it with solder and rejoing with heatshrink I understand. ..but "crimping" ??

You will need to physically cut the wire you wish to splice into if using crimp connections.

The benefit of them (if you have a decent crimp tool) is that they are very cheap, very easy to use and already insulated.  They are NOT insulated from moisture though - not a major problem inside a vehicle.

If you are good with the iron, do it properly! 

[05omegav6]

No need to cut the wire for soldering, merely strip a length... now you know how the terminals come out of the fuse box, you could even strip the last 5mm next to the terminal of choice, and make it totally seemless