Two into one connector?

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richardw
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Two into one connector?

Post by richardw »

I may be going slightly crazy after being cooped up at home for the last 6 weeks, but I need to find something that does a professional job of joining 2 wires into one. My indicators haven’t been working and I tracked this down to a faulty block connector (similar to a H4 headlamp block connector) that fits onto the flasher unit. One of the connectors on this unit accepts two feeds - one from the hazard switch and one from the indicator switch, and the female spade connector in the block has the facility for the two wires to be crimped to it separately.

I’m trying to find a neat way of joining these two wires into one as I can’t find any of these female spade connectors with crimps for 2 wires. I’d rather not do anything that looks like a bodge.

Does anyone better qualified than me know of any commercially available 2 into 1 wire connectors that I could use?

Many thanks, Richard
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bash
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by bash »

Have you looked on carbuildersolutions web site.
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https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/terminals ... orderBy=15
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Excel SA
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by Excel SA »

I used an "open barrel splice" - basically a small "V" shaped piece of metal that gets crimped around the wires, then cover with heat shrink.

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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by Pete Boole »

Just buy a spade connector suitable for thicker wire and crimp two wires in there at the same time and finish with heat shrink. Presumably we're talking about a locking-tabbed 1/4" female spade?

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richardw
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by richardw »

Thanks guys for injecting much needed common sense into my dilemma!

Bash, your link to Car Builder Solutions led me to exactly the connector I have fitted to the flasher unit: https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/headlamp- ... -terminals

As I haven’t removed the old one yet (it is partly melted!) I couldn’t see that the crimps are set at 90 degrees which I mistook for a dual crimp - it barely hangs below the dash and I’m not yet flexible enough to adopt the Lotus position.

However I still do think that a proper fully insulated 2 into 1 connector, if anyone made it, would be extremely useful!

Many thanks
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by Pete Boole »

Those terminals are called "flags" and you cannot crimp them without a proper flag terminal crimping tool - make sure you have one! :wink:

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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by richardw »

Thanks for the heads up Pete

Cheers, Richard
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by MetBlue »

If that's the right plug, you might find it easier to buy a pre wired one off fleabay and splice the wires in. Search "H4 headlamp plug".
Might be worth checking the relay plug first though with a bulb. It might look the same, but is the spade spacing the same?
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richardw
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by richardw »

Thanks Tony - I have checked and it is the same.

I do have a handful of pre-wired 5 way relay connectors which do fit the 3 way flasher unit so may end up doing what you suggest with one of those (removing the two surplus wires).

Cheers, Richard
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Re: Two into one connector?

Post by barker_001 »

I haven't used them on the car (yet!) but I swear by these heatshrink solder splices in many other applications - approved for aircraft use so definitely not a bodge!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wh5gM8GM70

If you pick the right size it is possible to feed 2 wires into one end, and one into the other, making a sealed, soldered, "Y" connection.

The only caveat with car wiring (rather than aircraft PTFE insulated wiring) would be to ensure the insulation doesn't get hot enough to melt it, try a test piece first.
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