Waterproof T-taps

What are people using for waterproof T-taps? Or if not T-taps, what is the best way to tap into a wire?

 

Depends on the purpose. Only one place I have a T-tap on my truck, and that's for the pop-n-lock running to the rear gate handle. Pretty much any other accessory, I'd rather trigger somewhere else that doesn't need a splice, or install a Posi-Tap for a relay trigger at worst.

 

Scotchlocks and T-Taps. I don’t like, i don’t recommenced. Best used for roadside emergencies, otherwise i wouldn’t ever use them. I’d spend the time to splice in with solder and adhesive lined heat shrink.

 

Posi-Taps are help in pretty high regard on the First Gen Forum. Their only drawback is they’re expensive as hell and there doesn’t seem to be a Chinesium version of them.

 

I dispute the "expensive as hell", it's an investment, Posi-taps are infinitely reusable. Scotchlocks, T-Taps, Quick connects, etc. are not infinitely reusable. It would take a lot of re-use to equate the cost savings, but ... you're also not going to nead to deal with future electrical gremlins and repairs corroding your wire, cut strands of copper in your wiring caused by destroying your wire casings, oxygen+water intrusion on your copper, etc.

Posi-taps are water-resistant but not waterproof in the classic sense of the word. They pierce the sheath vs. cutting it, so they'll retain whatever seal the wire casing provides. I suppose you could apply dielectric grease to the puncture area and get as near to waterproof as anything else. If you ever remove the Posi-tap, a simple dab of liquid electrical tape will re-seal the wire.

Posi-taps are also made in USA. So you're supporting American manufacturing when buying their products. We all want to support American manufacturing, right?!

But yeah. T-taps, scotchloks and their like are garbage, hackish, and shouldn't be used, especially externally.

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Not really such a thing. You can find splices designed for direct burial or wet locations but you would have to cut the existing wire. Essentially splice 3 cut unstripped wire ends together. They are 3M waterproof scotchlocks and we use them for connecting devices in underground fuel storage tanks.

You're not going to find a weather tight connector of the T variety.

Other best bet is to use and uninsulated butt splice connector and heat shrink over the splice. But you would still have to cut the original wire you're trying to T into. You will want to use the heat shrink lined with adhesive to make sure no moisture works it's way into the splice.

 

Solder and heat shrink. I never trust anything else except butt-connectors and that’s just when I’m being lazy.

 

Time and a place for everything. I use a butt splice if the line is cut and the application isn’t suited or reasonable to solder and shrink. If the line isn’t cut and I don’t want to cut a factory harness, it presents a unique dilemma. posi-taps nicely solve that dilemma in a non-invasive way.

 

Another option is to build a custom harness adaptor from OEM connectors. A couple members here have done that for others for a modest fee.

 

I actually really enjoy soldering and heat shrinking for splicing but haven't tried that in a T type of connection. Do just expose a length of bare wire and solder your new wire along side it? more like a Y than a T? Or I guess you could cut the existing wire and strip both ends and solder the new one between them

 

I've never used a posi-tap, thanks I'll give them a try

 

you can do whatever your heart desires. I personally will cut and strip all the wires and do the Y connection so I can kinda work things in the directions I want

 

I've also never used t-taps, posi-taps or anything similar. I've been a fan of soldering and heat shrink methods since I started tinkering on dirt bikes in my teens. However, @shifty` brings up a good point about the reusaability of posi-taps. I might look into these for any future project needs.

 

Another vote for Posi products. Good shit.

 

I had an 83 Toyota Sunrader that was absolutely riddled with those quick tap things (100's of them) and yes they are bad. Many an evening was spent on the side of the freeway searching for the bad connection. I would just work my way from tap to tap until I found the culprit.