Poll: electrical connector crimpers/dies

Peter Dohm wrote:
"Dan" wrote in message
news:_8PWg.6620$eZ4.4208@dukeread06...
Robert Murray wrote:
"Dan" wrote in message
news:e4EWg.6357$eZ4.5677@dukeread06...
I use Daniels HX-4 and did so in the service with good results. Like
any other tool it must be inspected from time to time using the correct
GO-NO - GO gauge. As for connectors I prefer cannon plugs with crimp
pins. Again I use Daniels tools for this too.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
Yep! Faster and no cold solder joints to chase.
Bob


You haven't lived until you have had to repair a solder joint in the
middle of a 100 pin cannon plug


Then again, it's a good idea to lock your work away from the geniuses
who want to help. I once spent 16 hours cutting wires to length, marking
them and soldering on end into one of three bulkhead disconnects. Please
note I said I cut the wires to length. The other ends had to go to
various points on an instrument panel. While I was home sound asleep
some genius decided to tidy everything up by cutting everything to one
length. Would anyone venture a guess as to my reaction when I showed up
for my next shift? Go ahead, guess.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Well, you're out and about. You obviously didn't over react. G

Peter
(Equally mild mannered)


What saved that jerk's life, besides being sent home before I got
in, was he spent the day cutting and marking new wires. I cleaned up the
connectors and started over. Day shift, I was working swings, installed
the other ends and I got to put the instrument panel in the airplane.
It's truly amazing how many circuit breakers can pop at one time The
ADI and HSI each had 50 something pin connectors I got to redo.
Instruments that were supposed to have red lighting had white lighting,
how does one mess up a 3 pin connector? Usually they wanted 2 weeks
notice for a leave request. My shop chief suggested I take a week off
"starting tomorrow." And that, your honour, is why I didn't get life in
Leavenworth.

As an aside crimp connectors aren't dummy proof either. At another
base a decade later a SSgt was happily soldering crimp pins before
inserting them into a cannon plug on a C-130. She had never been taught
to use a crimper and didn't know she was supposed to use one. I was an
avionics shift chief at the time and went out to check on her an hour
before shift change. She had spent several hours working on a 54 pin
connector that should have taken 30 minutes. The look on her face when I
showed her how to use a crimper was priceless.

And that's trained personnel, some of the work I have seen on home
builts makes me cringe.


Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired