SteveDoten

I've been soldering all my gauge installs(boost/fuel pressure) on the C5/6 projects and also the C6 HUD upgrades

Am I wasting my time here?? should I just use the 3m wire taps?

they seem to be hit or miss with wiring?

Thoughts/comments?? thanks

markcz

It's been my experience that they work >99% if you use the correct size tap for the wire you're connecting to.

However, if you're comfortable soldering that is definitely the way to go.

pentavolvo

i solder alot but if u use the right size tap they work great

Tarheels1

I am an old telephone engineer...we found that if you solder the connection it will be good for a lifetime. We used to call connectors in our industry Scotch locks. They failed on a regular basis. When you solder, electronically it looks like a solid connection from the instrument to the module or source. I had the installer of my stereo system solder every connection. I have not had a failure anywhere. I did an instrument cluster with analog gauges in my old 1964 1/2 Mustang. I got the solder style connectors and wired them to go to the sensors. It was hard tedious work but worth it for the thieves that stole my Aluminum dash cluster. (long story)
The aftermarket EFI people solder their harnesses at all connections with silver solder to reduce chance of failure.

I know many on this forum will cry overkill, but that is my two cents worth. I hate going back to trouble shoot problems that come and go, personally.

TNX ZORA

Enough years of experience will teach anyone and everyone that taps are often not permanent but a proper solder joint always is. Even a "good" tap won't carry as much current as a soldered connection and taps are readily effected by moisture and resultant corrosion whereas soldered joints are immune.

Twisted1

I always ... Never had a failure, but I have had to diagnose plenty of wire tap issues. Soldering you will never have a connection failure...

I know you travel and try to do a lot of installs.

Stay true to your good name out there. Keep soldering..
The lack of call backs is worth the extra time every time.

I'm sure you have one, but a butane soldering iron is easy to use. No cords.

Twisted1

pentavolvo

I solder 99% of the time, sometimes you have a connection that is so tight and burried that soldering would be damn near impossiable

I only use the good electrical tape

Gadget01

Use shrink-tube to insulate the connection instead of tape.

Here's a head-unit adapter harness I just made. If this were done with bulky crimps, it would take up twice the space, far less flexible, and hopefully it wouldn't fail. Soldered, it will never fail.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3008260...7609641696673/