[Shop-talk] Scotch-locks and T-Taps

[Donald H Locker]

T-Tap (a Scotchlok product by 3M) is an insulation displacement connector on one wire only.  The other connection to the circuit is by a male spade terminal plugged into the stem of the Tee.  <http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Marine/Home/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE20S4K7_nid=GS3MTHGQSCbeVB2NDGZBTHgl> shows the T-Tap.  It doesn't show how the male spade plugs in, but it would go into the flag sticking away from the wire in the picture.  The traditional Scotchlok breaks the insulation on two parallel wires and connects them together.

Personally, I'd try to go with stripping and crimping wherever possible.  Soldering will put a stress riser at the joint - wire strands will break where they leave the solder (where they get bent sharply).  The crimps support the strands through the transition from constrained to free much better.

Does that help?
Donald.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Trovato" <strovato at optonline.net>
To: "Shop Talk List" <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 1, 2010 12:47:58 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [Shop-talk] Scotch-locks and T-Taps

Hello all and Happy New Year.  I am getting ready to install a remote 
car start unit.  The installation manual says:

If you use tapping connectors such as T-Taps (not to be confused with 
Scotch-locks), avoid using them in higher-current applications 
(constant 12V, ground, etc.)  These connectors are inferior in 
quality and should be avoided.

So, can someone tell me the difference between T-Taps and 
Scotch-locks?  I always thought that "Scotchlok" was just 3M's brand 
name for T-Taps.  I can find lots of arguments online about how 
soldering is better.  In the discussions, it seems that many people 
seem to agree with my manual, and they treat scotch-locks and T-Taps 
as different things.  Can anybody clear this up for me?  Thanks.

-Steve Trovato
strovato at optonline.net
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