ok i am about to tear my control panel up...wiring problems it keeps..

[robot8319]

i am going having a helluva of a time with my wiring.

i need to know how can i get the wires to stay on the switches.i currently am using electrical tape to hold the wires to the switches but they keep on falling off and the wiring looks like a mess..

i need some pointers on what tools to use and possible what kind of adapters i can use to hold the wires in place with plugs of some sort.

i am envious of everyone else's wiring skills of it seems everyone's control panels looks very professional while mine looks like a retard wired it up...lol

please help me out.

[4Aaron GE]

TAPE?!?!??!!

You want these, and a decent crimp tool.

[robot8319]

where do i crimp it at?? the red part or the metal part.??

[4Aaron GE]

You stick the wire in the red part, and then you crimp the smaller diamater part of the red part.  The metal part then will slide on and off of the switch.

[Kevin Mullins]

Take one of the switches with you so that you get the right size terminal for the particular switches that you have. Some switches have a smaller terminal than others.

[leapinlew]

lol... poor guy.

I've used the quick connects and solder. Good luck.

[Apollo]

lol tape

[robot8319]

i just purchased a 100 pack of quick connects off ebay size 187" for $5 shipped.

i am going to try them out and see how it goes..

[Avrus]

i just purchased a 100 pack of quick connects off ebay size 187" for $5 shipped.

i am going to try them out and see how it goes..

I'm guessing way easier.

 

[fjl]

Get a good crimp tool. Don't go for something cheap like from Radio Shack. One decent one is one made by Klein Tools. You can usually find those at Home Depot in the electric tools section. Wont be cheap though. But if you go cheap, just remember the saying, "You get what you pay for."

[leapinlew]

Any chance we can get some before pics?

This will be something you remember as a duh! moment. It happens to all of us.   

[tommy]

I have some extra bubble gum if you need it. 

[BobA]

I second the get a proper crimper message.   Do not just try to use pliers as they will be loose and  the wire will fall out.

Get a crimper.  Can also strip wires and cut small screws.

[MameMaster!]

Don't be afraid of soldering.....you don't have to be neat when connecting your buttons as the contacts are nice and large.

I avoided soldering for the longest time....and realized I made things much harder by not just trying it out.

It's easy....and you won't have these problems anymore. 

[DaOld Man]

I also solder all my button and joystick connections.
I use the keywiz eco2, with an IDE cable plugged into it. If that little baby dies on me, I will just unplug it and plug in a new one.
If I have a micro switch fail, i will just use de-soldering wick to remove the solder, replace the switch and resolder the wires.
On my first control panel mock-up build, I used crimp terminals. I found out quick that they added much more work, and considerable cost to the project.
On my "real" CP, I soldered everything. it looks a lot neater, IMHO.
Also, I doubt the switches will fail for a very long time.

[SirPeale]

I avoided soldering for the longest time....and realized I made things much harder by not just trying it out.

It's easy....and you won't have these problems anymore. 

BUT...*practice* on something you don't care about before trying to do it with something you do.

[DaOld Man]

BUT...*practice* on something you don't care about before trying to do it with something you do.

Good advice..
read up on some soldering tutorials too.
Im sure there are some on the web. just Google em.

[brian_hoffman]

I wouldnt recommend soldering (but to each their own)... Microswitches dont last forever.
goto your local hardware store.. The interconnects are not expensive.. Did you notice that little hole? Nicer connects have a little tab that catches there to help a solid connection.
Use stranded small gauge wire and Create a plan of your wiring management.
Have all your micro switches pointing as possable to the same direction as possable..
It takes time but you will be happy you did it right...

Remember you may need to service it at some point..

[leapinlew]

I wouldnt recommend soldering (but to each their own)... Microswitches dont last forever.

Solder isn't permanent either. I've done both and I use solder when I want a solid connection such as the mini-cabs that will move more often than a full size cab.

Nothing wrong with the quick connects. I've found the solder holds better. 

[DaOld Man]

Nothing wrong with the quick connects. I've found the solder holds better. 

And it's cheaper, dont forget the cheaper!

Most of the people in here are on budgets. Dont get me wrong, if cheaper sacrifices quality then go with quality, but I agree with Lew, and I think solder looks better than crimps, but that's just my opinion.