noobish wiring question

[Firepro4Life]

I am using a Minipac in the control panel for the MAME cabinet I am working on and the wiring harness that came with it is too short to reach all buttons. Rather than spend the $ on wire extensions from Ultimarc, is there any other easier way to lengthen the wires? Would cutting an additional length of wire, twisting it with the wire from the harness and securing it with electrical tape work? Forgive my ignorance as I have never done any electrical work before. Thanks for any help you all can provide.

[Nephasth]

Molex connectors.

But you can also use butt splices, wire nuts, or (my most hated wire connector) scotch-locks. All would be better than twisting wires together and taping. There's also soldering.

[mgb]

I would use butt connectors. I think that would be the neatest solution.

[danny_galaga]

Molex connectors.

But you can also use butt splices, wire nuts, or (my most hated wire connector) scotch-locks. All would be better than twisting wires together and taping. There's also soldering.

Yep, scotch-locks are just marginally better than twisting together (",)

Soldering would be best, but crimp joiners would be fine. You'll need to get some crimping pliers too though.

[compute]

I would probably use some type of crimp connector with heat shrink tubing over it.  The tubing will immobilize the wire making it harder for the connection to break.  If you don't own a heat gun, a couple quick passes with a bic lighter works well to shrink the tube.  IMO it looks neater than electrical tape.

[yaksplat]

Point the bare wires towards each other, overlap, twist them together, solder and then shrink tube.  Closest to a continuous wire as you can get.

[dandare]

Molex connectors.

But you can also use butt splices, wire nuts, or (my most hated wire connector) scotch-locks. All would be better than twisting wires together and taping. There's also soldering.

Molex connectors eh Nephasth. had much experience with them? 

[Gaaargh]

Voted most likey to get carpal tunnel from something other than playing video games.

[Nephasth]

Molex connectors.

But you can also use butt splices, wire nuts, or (my most hated wire connector) scotch-locks. All would be better than twisting wires together and taping. There's also soldering.

Molex connectors eh Nephasth. had much experience with them?  

Coming up on 3,000 crimps soon... 

[Firepro4Life]

Thanks for the replies, I'll have to look into these options since tape ain't gonna cut it.

[Unstupid]

So what do you guys have against scotchloks?  I think they are great!  Ya don't even have to strip the wire!   Maybe I just hate my crimper....

[Nephasth]

I was a deisel mechanic for several years. Truckers liked to add fancy chrome lights to their rigs. They figure the easiest way to tap into a harness is with scotch-locks. That truck drives through the elements and the scotch-locks become the vessel for corrosion. I hated tracing an electrical problem to find a clump of electrical tape with a scotch-lock that has turned into ball of green corrosion. Weatherpack connectors are best for the elements, but if you have to do wiring work on something exposed to the elements, at the very least use heat shrink butt splices. That's why I hate them. Yeah, most arcade cabs aren't exposed to the elements, but there's a better way than using those ---smurfing--- scotch-locks. They look like ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- too.

[Unstupid]

They are not much uglier than butt splices.  Plus FWIW I don't plan on taking my cab off-roading anytime soon!    

[Nephasth]

They are not much uglier than butt splices. 

Hence my excessive use of Micro-fit Molex connectors.

[Unstupid]

Ohh those are sexy!

[yaksplat]

Molex connectors make it all look professional. 

[danny_galaga]

I was a deisel mechanic for several years. Truckers liked to add fancy chrome lights to their rigs. They figure the easiest way to tap into a harness is with scotch-locks. That truck drives through the elements and the scotch-locks become the vessel for corrosion. I hated tracing an electrical problem to find a clump of electrical tape with a scotch-lock that has turned into ball of green corrosion. Weatherpack connectors are best for the elements, but if you have to do wiring work on something exposed to the elements, at the very least use heat shrink butt splices. That's why I hate them. Yeah, most arcade cabs aren't exposed to the elements, but there's a better way than using those ---smurfing--- scotch-locks. They look like ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- too.

Yeah, I have a similar background to account for my disdain of scotchlocks. I was an auto electrician. For us, the only proper way to permanently join a wire to another wire was to solder. Everything else is an inferior option. I was horrified when I visited the workshop of a friend who was a helicopter turbine mechanic. They had scotchlocks in their toolbox  . I think it was mostly for things like adding radios etc, but still...Also, a bunch of scotchlocks together just looks like ass. Not something you can take pride in.

 But for a cab, crimps would be ok. Not like it's getting a ton of rain on it