A Crimping Question

[PacManess]

Hello everyone,
Ok, here's the deal. I have some .187 Female Quick Disconnects, and I want to crimp those to some wiring. Now, how do I go about doing this?
Here is my understanding of it:
I put the wire (with sleeve and all) into the end of the terminal.
I put the terminal in my little crimp thingie.
I crimp it.

I tried this process, and it didn't so much work very well. So, if anyone has any suggestions that will keep me solder free, I'd really really FOR really appreciate it.

Ohhh, on a nice side note, I found a 4 Way Wico Leaf on EBay! I am so happy. It's so pretty. I just sit there in front of my computer holding my stick, moving it around, wishing and hoping that someday soon I can Pac-Man all day (and night) long. Good times.

Thanks again for any help!

[Squid]

That's pretty much it; but it does take some practice.  I remember the first time I tried it most of the wires pulled out if I tugged on them even a little bit.  Make sure you're crimping the narrow part of the sleeve (it's got a large end where the wire goes in, and a narrow end on the other end).  I usually make sure that I can see a little wire sticking out of the narrow end too just to make sure.

[PacManess]

So, let me make sure I understand this...

Let's say I have the Quick Disco terminal. I put the wire into the end of the terminal (not the end that plugs to the joystick/button) and just crimp it?
How far should I put the wire in?
Should I strip the wire down at all, or will the crimping cause contact to be made between the metal part of the terminal and the wiring?
Thanks again for any info. This is a little more complicated that it appeared at first looksie.

[Tailgunner]

You need to strip the insulation off and crimp to the bare wire. If the wire is too small for the terminal, strip off more insulation, fold the bare wire in half, and crimp on that. Still too small? Strip yet more insulation, fold the bare wire in thirds, and crimp on that.

Cool deal on the Wico, once you're used to them, there is no acceptable substitute.

[PacManess]

Ahhhh...that makes some sense! So, strip off the insulation, then if the wire is too small, then strip farther down, double up and then BAMMO!

Gotcha.

Another question, related to this I guess:

I now have 2 8-way joysticks, 1 4-way Wico, a boatload of buttons (or is that a buttload of boatons?), and a 4 player IPac (overkill, but got if off EBay for cheap). So, now that I am to the phase where I buy wood and wiring...what gauge of wiring is best to use with the .187 Quick Discos?

This has been big help, thanks for all the good info.

[HaRuMaN]

I just sit there in front of my computer holding my stick, moving it around

!!  I thought this was a family site  !!
 

[PacManess]

D'oh!

Ok, so maybe not the BEST choice of words...

hehe

[HagHore]

Ahhhh...that makes some sense! So, strip off the insulation, then if the wire is too small, then strip farther down, double up and then BAMMO!

Gotcha.

Another question, related to this I guess:

I now have 2 8-way joysticks, 1 4-way Wico, a boatload of buttons (or is that a buttload of boatons?), and a 4 player IPac (overkill, but got if off EBay for cheap). So, now that I am to the phase where I buy wood and wiring...what gauge of wiring is best to use with the .187 Quick Discos?

This has been big help, thanks for all the good info.

22 ga stranded wire works quite well.  Here's where you need to find out what gauge wire your disconnects are made for.  If your disconnects are made for a thicker gauge then you will need to double up as Tailgunner pointed out.  Also make sure you are using the correct portion of your crimper for the type of disconnect.

[Tiger-Heli]

So, now that I am to the phase where I buy wood and wiring...what gauge of wiring is best to use with the .187 Quick Discos?

This has been big help, thanks for all the good info.

Okay, these are things that it's usually taken for granted that people know, but it's good to explain anyway.

What color is the insulation on your Quick Disconnects:

BTW, higher gauge number wire = thinner wire.  28-32 is an IDE HD cable (the individual wires).  16-18 is like lamp cord, 10-14 is medium thick car wiring, 4 gauge is car battery terminal cables.

Red Q-D's are for 18-22 Gauge wire
Blue are for 14-18
Yellow would be 12-14, but I doubt you have yellow.

Red would be the best for this application and 22-gauge stranded seems to work well.  Note with red terminals and 22-gauge wire, you still probably want to double single wires over, but you will also be able to run two wires to the same Q-D for daisy-chaining ground wires and so forth.

[PacManess]

Ok, the Q-Ds I have right now are blue ones, but I can easily get red ones. So the plan is this:
Get red Q-Ds, then 22 gauge wiring...then go to town.

Thanks for answering my silly questions, I'm sure I'll have more before this thing is finished.

[Stormy151]

If you're using blue QD's with 22 gauge wire, you can strip farther and bend in half and crimp on that.

It's not the correct way to do it, but it works.  It's an arcade control panel, not an aircraft- so you should be OK.