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expired Posted by JZ1989 • Jun 8, 2021
expired Posted by JZ1989 • Jun 8, 2021

TICONN T-Tap Wire Connectors: 480-Pc $14, 240-PC $8.40, 120-Pc

& More

$6.30

$8.95

29% off
Amazon
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Deal Details
Ticonn US via Amazon has 30% Off Select T-Tap Wire Connectors Sets at prices starting from $6.26 when you add the item from the linked page below or apply promo code 30SVL28D to qualifying items at checkout. Shipping is free with Prime or on orders $25+.

Thanks to staff member JZ1989 for finding this deal.

Deal Instructions:
  1. Go to Ticonn T-Tap Wire Connectors Sets
  2. Choose from the following (prices after 30% discount)
  3. Add item to cart
  4. Proceed to checkout
  5. Apply promo code 30SVL28D
  6. Your total will start from $6.26, shipping is free with Prime or on orders $25+

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • This deal (22-Piece) is $1.24 lower (15% savings) than previous Front Page deal that earned 56+ thumbs up
  • About this store:
    • Merchant Ticonn US has earned a 99% positive lifetime rating (8,166 total ratings)
    • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
    • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
No Longer Available:

Original Post

Written by JZ1989
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Ticonn US via Amazon has 30% Off Select T-Tap Wire Connectors Sets at prices starting from $6.26 when you add the item from the linked page below or apply promo code 30SVL28D to qualifying items at checkout. Shipping is free with Prime or on orders $25+.

Thanks to staff member JZ1989 for finding this deal.

Deal Instructions:
  1. Go to Ticonn T-Tap Wire Connectors Sets
  2. Choose from the following (prices after 30% discount)
  3. Add item to cart
  4. Proceed to checkout
  5. Apply promo code 30SVL28D
  6. Your total will start from $6.26, shipping is free with Prime or on orders $25+

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • This deal (22-Piece) is $1.24 lower (15% savings) than previous Front Page deal that earned 56+ thumbs up
  • About this store:
    • Merchant Ticonn US has earned a 99% positive lifetime rating (8,166 total ratings)
    • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
    • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
No Longer Available:

Original Post

Written by JZ1989

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Top Comments

firebirdude
6775 Posts
2379 Reputation
These work by forcing a metal blade through the insulation. On finely stranded wires, this almost guarantees some strands will be cut as well. I've also experienced the opposite, where the T-tap latched completely in the lock position, but it hadn't cut through the insulation enough and wasn't making contact with the wire strands. I had to crimp it hard with pliers. Yes, I was using the correct size.

In the end, after years of car electronics work, I've learned to just say no to T-taps. A quick military splice [gm-trucks.com] is an all-around better/more dependable splice when you cannot access either end of a wire.
gallymimus
4837 Posts
765 Reputation
There is a lot wrong with this comment:

Current doesn't travel on the circumference of stranded wire. That's not how it works. It sounds like you are misunderstanding the skin effect that causes current to travel in the "skin" of conductors at high frequencies. This is a byproduct of some RF behavior and isn't relevant until you to get into the 10s of Kilohertz. At DC and 60Hz the skin effect is negligible and the full cross section of the wire will carry current evenly regardless of stranding.

Catching the external wires doesn't create a bottleneck as you suggest. This isn't a situation where the flow of current is only as strong as the weakest link. If you look at the math for conductors and total resistivity per unit length, it is perfectly acceptable to have very small regions of poor conductivity as their relative contribution per unit length to the total resistance of the system is negligible. The only exception to this is if there is sufficient heat generated at those points where the resistance is slightly higher. I couldn't comment on the resistance of a particular T-tap junction, but catching out wires in and of itself don't necessarily reduce the performance.

Solid wire vs stranded wire does not improve or retard current flow in any significant way. It all looks like a bulk conductor of specified cross sectional area for all intents and purposes (at the frequencies being discussed here).

That said, is a solder connection better? OF COURSE? Is it a huge hassle? YES. Would I do a solder connection instead? Yes I would, unless it was time or cost prohibitive.
ToolDeals
6792 Posts
1473 Reputation
How about that.... FrontPage with no comments.

These 3M copycats are probably fine for very low amperage on a size up wire, but when it matters, one might opt for protected soldered connections.

If say, you are using the full amperage of a 12guage stranded wire, whereas the current is traveling on the circumference of each strand of wire, the splice connection is the bottleneck by catching just the external wires. These would supply most of the rated current better with solid wire, but the wire tension loosens over time to cause arcing.

As an example, these will probably work fine for low wattage LED trailer lights if you waterproof the connection.

30 Comments

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Jun 11, 2021
6,792 Posts
Joined Jun 2014
Jun 11, 2021
ToolDeals
Jun 11, 2021
6,792 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ToolDeals

How about that.... FrontPage with no comments. Smilie

These 3M copycats are probably fine for very low amperage on a size up wire, but when it matters, one might opt for protected soldered connections.

If say, you are using the full amperage of a 12guage stranded wire, whereas the current is traveling on the circumference of each strand of wire, the splice connection is the bottleneck by catching just the external wires. These would supply most of the rated current better with solid wire, but the wire tension loosens over time to cause arcing.

As an example, these will probably work fine for low wattage LED trailer lights if you waterproof the connection.
1
3
Jun 11, 2021
1,181 Posts
Joined Feb 2008
Jun 11, 2021
rkx
Jun 11, 2021
1,181 Posts
Are these even UL rated?
2
Jun 11, 2021
324 Posts
Joined Dec 2018
Jun 11, 2021
shoka_con
Jun 11, 2021
324 Posts
These things are pretty cool (I use the Wirefly version), but I wouldn't use them for any heavy loads. If you're tapping a wire for a few milliamps, this should be fine, though. I've used a few of these in the past week, and it definitely saves time and trouble when working with 12v wiring, for example.
Expert
This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Jun 11, 2021
6,775 Posts
Joined Oct 2014
Jun 11, 2021
firebirdude
Expert
This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Jun 11, 2021
6,775 Posts
These work by forcing a metal blade through the insulation. On finely stranded wires, this almost guarantees some strands will be cut as well. I've also experienced the opposite, where the T-tap latched completely in the lock position, but it hadn't cut through the insulation enough and wasn't making contact with the wire strands. I had to crimp it hard with pliers. Yes, I was using the correct size.

In the end, after years of car electronics work, I've learned to just say no to T-taps. A quick military splice [gm-trucks.com] is an all-around better/more dependable splice when you cannot access either end of a wire.
Jun 11, 2021
286 Posts
Joined Jun 2010
Jun 11, 2021
izzletodasmizzl
Jun 11, 2021
286 Posts
Wow, thanks OP. Literally was looking at these yesterday for some car install stuff. What are the odds!
1
Jun 11, 2021
286 Posts
Joined Jun 2010
Jun 11, 2021
izzletodasmizzl
Jun 11, 2021
286 Posts
Quote from firebirdude :
These work by forcing a metal blade through the insulation. On finely stranded wires, this almost guarantees some strands will be cut as well. I've also experienced the opposite, where the T-tap latched completely in the lock position, but it hadn't cut through the insulation enough and wasn't making contact with the wire strands. I had to crimp it hard with pliers. Yes, I was using the correct size.

In the end, after years of car electronics work, I've learned to just say no to T-taps. A quick military splice [gm-trucks.com] is an all-around better/more dependable splice when you cannot access either end of a wire.
I'd agree that a military splice is the best way to go if you want to be absolutely sure. Just need to find a good deal on the wire strippers to strip a wire in the middle.
Jun 11, 2021
265 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Jun 11, 2021
ICE300
Jun 11, 2021
265 Posts
Purchased these last time, payed for itself in two projects I was working on, ( tapped into my reverse lights for aux" lights, & clearance lights for the front of my truck.

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Jun 11, 2021
1,167 Posts
Joined Aug 2019
Jun 11, 2021
JJpeppers
Jun 11, 2021
1,167 Posts
Quote from shoka_con :
These things are pretty cool (I use the Wirefly version), but I wouldn't use them for any heavy loads. If you're tapping a wire for a few milliamps, this should be fine, though. I've used a few of these in the past week, and it definitely saves time and trouble when working with 12v wiring, for example.
I been using these on 12v 3 amp lines for a few months. Works well and no issues.
Expert
This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Jun 11, 2021
6,775 Posts
Joined Oct 2014
Jun 11, 2021
firebirdude
Expert
This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Jun 11, 2021
6,775 Posts
Quote from izzletodasmizzl :
I'd agree that a military splice is the best way to go if you want to be absolutely sure. Just need to find a good deal on the wire strippers to strip a wire in the middle.
Any pair will work. I use these [parts-express.com] 99% of the time.
Jun 11, 2021
3,439 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Jun 11, 2021
Fogmoose
Jun 11, 2021
3,439 Posts
In for the small set. For $6 in change it's a good deal for basic, low voltage or speaker installation.
2
Jun 12, 2021
4,837 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Jun 12, 2021
Azrael_the_Cat
Jun 12, 2021
4,837 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Azrael_the_Cat

Quote from ToolDeals :
How about that.... FrontPage with no comments.

These 3M copycats are probably fine for very low amperage on a size up wire, but when it matters, one might opt for protected soldered connections.

If say, you are using the full amperage of a 12guage stranded wire, whereas the current is traveling on the circumference of each strand of wire, the splice connection is the bottleneck by catching just the external wires. These would supply most of the rated current better with solid wire, but the wire tension loosens over time to cause arcing.

As an example, these will probably work fine for low wattage LED trailer lights if you waterproof the connection.
There is a lot wrong with this comment:

Current doesn't travel on the circumference of stranded wire. That's not how it works. It sounds like you are misunderstanding the skin effect that causes current to travel in the "skin" of conductors at high frequencies. This is a byproduct of some RF behavior and isn't relevant until you to get into the 10s of Kilohertz. At DC and 60Hz the skin effect is negligible and the full cross section of the wire will carry current evenly regardless of stranding.

Catching the external wires doesn't create a bottleneck as you suggest. This isn't a situation where the flow of current is only as strong as the weakest link. If you look at the math for conductors and total resistivity per unit length, it is perfectly acceptable to have very small regions of poor conductivity as their relative contribution per unit length to the total resistance of the system is negligible. The only exception to this is if there is sufficient heat generated at those points where the resistance is slightly higher. I couldn't comment on the resistance of a particular T-tap junction, but catching out wires in and of itself don't necessarily reduce the performance.

Solid wire vs stranded wire does not improve or retard current flow in any significant way. It all looks like a bulk conductor of specified cross sectional area for all intents and purposes (at the frequencies being discussed here).

That said, is a solder connection better? OF COURSE? Is it a huge hassle? YES. Would I do a solder connection instead? Yes I would, unless it was time or cost prohibitive.
1
1
Jun 12, 2021
28 Posts
Joined Jun 2017
Jun 12, 2021
neonredracer21
Jun 12, 2021
28 Posts
I bought a set last time these were marked down. While they are simple to use and seem to be a great idea, I can never get a solid connection regardless of what I seem to do. The T Tap portion seems to be too "loose" to keep a solid connection, I constantly have to push the connection tight, don't know if it's just faulty T Taps that aren't fitting correctly or what?
Jun 12, 2021
916 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
Jun 12, 2021
discord
Jun 12, 2021
916 Posts
Quote :
I bought a set last time these were marked down. While they are simple to use and seem to be a great idea, I can never get a solid connection regardless of what I seem to do. The T Tap portion seems to be too "loose" to keep a solid connection, I constantly have to push the connection tight, don't know if it's just faulty T Taps that aren't fitting correctly or what?
Are you using the properly rated connector for the wire size?
Jun 12, 2021
606 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Jun 12, 2021
enkay2
Jun 12, 2021
606 Posts
Love these.. they come in handy when installing a reverse camera in older vehicles.

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Jun 12, 2021
831 Posts
Joined Dec 2015
Jun 12, 2021
wildbillybob
Jun 12, 2021
831 Posts
Please never use these. Use posi-tap connectors, no broken wires or corrosion.

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