How to Install Butt Connectors on Electrical Wire

How to Install Butt Connectors on Electrical Wire
Published: Oct 26, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Anywhere you need to splice or terminate a piece of stranded wire, an insulated connector will do the job.

Things You Will Need

  • Insulated butt splices
  • Crimping pliers
  • Wire strippers
  1. Purchase insulated butt splices at a hardware or auto supply store. The splices should accept the gauge of wire being spliced. If spade or ring end connectors are required, they can also be purchased, either singly or in an assortment.

  2. Purchase a pair of crimping pliers designed for crimping insulated connectors. Most of these crimping pliers have wire strippers in the handle.

  3. Strip the wires to be spliced with a butt connector. Place the wires in the proper diameter slot in the crimping pliers handle, leaving about 3/8 inch of wire exposed beyond the slot. Squeeze the handles together and pull off the insulation.

  4. Twist the stranded wire and insert it into one end of the butt connector. The insulated part of the wire should extend into the butt connector to prevent shorts. If you strip off too much wire, cut a bit off the end of the wire.

  5. Place the butt connector into the compression slot marked with the gauge of the butt connector being crimped. Be sure the crimping jaws are positioned over the stripped portion of the wire. Squeeze the handles together with enough force to crush the end of the butt splice.

  6. Repeat with the second wire inserted into the other end of the butt connector.

  7. Test the splice by pulling on the wires.

The Drip Cap

  • Stranded wire is easily spliced with a butt connector.
  • Use a pair of crimping pliers designed to crimp insulated connectors, such as butt connectors, spade connectors or ring connectors, and the job can be finished in just a few minutes.
  • Twist the stranded wire and insert it into one end of the butt connector.
  • Repeat with the second wire inserted into the other end of the butt connector.

Photo Credits

Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Heather Lamborn

Heather Jean Lamborn was a technical writer for 10 years while employed at the Naval Air Rework Facility in Alameda California. She wrote an essay in "Transgender Care" for the "Temple University Press," published 1997. Lamborn has…

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