Posi-Locks, would you reccomend using them as an alternative to soldering?

[chiefwhosm]

Hi,
    In looking into wiring solutions (actually it wasn't even for a car that I came accross them) I was reading on the alternatives to soldering wires (my soldering skills are truly abysmal) and came up with two solutions online, Scotch-Loks and Posi-Locks.

I read that most people shy away from scotch-loks (though as with any solution there are always some for/against users), however I haven't yet seen anyone saying to avoid posi-locks, so I was wondering if anyone here used them, and would reccomend them for splitting into the exsisting wiring of the Golf?

Would most people also reccomend using in-line fuses with them for added safety, etc?

Chief

[Gti Gerbil]

in short no

the soldered connection is by far the best.

the longer version

any IDC (insulation displacement connections) can suffer with corrosion from damp and only make the connection via a very small surface area on the thin edge of the metal piece that pushes through.

best advice is clean your soldering iron, but a bit of new clean solder (if yours has been laying a around a while) and practice

good luck

[Booney907]

I've not used Posi-Locks myself but i've used scotch locks and they work ok, as long as its a solid connection that cannot be pulled apart easily then it should be all good. Back in the day we used to just twist the wires together and cover with electrical tape! lol which was ok if done right

I normally use crimps or screw in connector blocks if i can't be bothered to solder

Best results is soldering tho, so much neater!

[danny_p]

soldering is not ideal TBH

the way wires should be joined is with crimps  before you all call me a boding pikey i'm not on about the sh!te red blue yellow pre insulated bits of crap the motorfactors sell.

you want uninsulated OE speck crimps ( and the proper crimping pliers ), you then cover the join with adhesive lined heatshrink 

anything is bettter than crappy moror factor pre insulated crimps or scotchlocks

[Wayne]

soldering is not ideal TBH

the way wires should be joined is with crimps  before you all call me a boding pikey i'm not on about the sh!te red blue yellow pre insulated bits of crap the motorfactors sell.

you want uninsulated OE speck crimps ( and the proper crimping pliers ), you then cover the join with adhesive lined heatshrink 

anything is bettter than crappy moror factor pre insulated crimps or scotchlocks

Spot on, much better if not the best way to do it

[Robracer]

Soldering is by far the best electrical connection there is. Better than any crimp or joint of any sorts. Soldering is easy, but saying that i was soldering in tech class in middle school, and have been ever since. My entire ice install in my golf is soldered where ever needed, and i've never had any connection fail what so ever. Anyway, if your new to soldering, nothing better than learning. Just take 2 pieces of copper or alloy, metal or wire and solder. Keep practicing until you perfect it

[gasketface]

Use the right solder,a hot enough CLEAN iron and ensure wires to be soldered are clean and you are sorted.Poor soldering usually comes from cheap solder-dirty soldering tip-bur'nt or dull wires.

[molegti]

I'd go with crimped connections tbh. Lead free solder and old wire can make the job difficult for soldering.

[Seanl]

As an engineer, in-line crimps are the best. Solder is best for components (obviously you cant really crimp them) but for bare wire, crimping with a proper tool will provide a more than adequate connection, and will give a much neater and better finish, as well as being properly insulated. (A load of phase tape over the top of a dodgy solder joint is the work of cowboys imho).

[chiefwhosm]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_216783_langId_-1_categoryId_165626

By OE Crimps/In-line crimps do I take it you mean the above?

Surely the posi-locks then are nearly as good since they're screw-threaded and are (on their higher expense range) vibration resistant from coming undone?

In my case, I'm planning at some point adding treble speakers to the parcel shelf area, and just figured I could use such things to break into the dash treble wiring, and route extended wires from there.

Chief