atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information beanies

I have followed after many inexperienced tech's who falsely believe that a B-connector can be used without stripping the wire. Thanks to your stupidity I have many faithful customers who will never call you again.

I was a cable splicer for several years for then Northwestern Bell. They did a study which concluded, at the time, that B wire connectors, properly used with the correct wire presser were the equivalent to a solidered connection. I realize this was many years ago. I spliced many thousands of pairs with them, 24 gauge or smaller we didn't strip and no problems. So as I said earlier it's a matter of preference, I've followed up people who improperly used scotchlocks that left troubles. Don't see where anyone is stupid for voicing there like or dislike for a particular connector. Guess jeffmoss26 was right flames can start over some pretty silly things....just my opinion.
Bill

Woah! B-connectors were most certainly made to be used without stripping the insulation off of the wire. Use the correct tool, found here:

https://www.gmptools.com/85330.html

Most problems come in when the wires are different gauges, or different insulations. I've had problems splicing filled Cat-5 to 24ga PIC, (not using it for Cat-5, just using the filled Cat-5 as cheap underground cable for temporary service). In that case, I needed to strip the insulation to ensure a good connection.

As justbill pointed out, they do provide a "gas-tight, better than solder" connection when used properly.

One hint, twist your wired together 3 or 4 times about 2' from where the connector will go. Use your snips to cut the two ends even, and they will be held even by the twists. Then put on the connector and properly crimp it. If you prep all your pairs this way, and then crimp them, you get a very neat butt-splice.

just stick'en my 2 cents worth....but the greatest tool for crunching "chicklets" is the inside of your needle nose or dykes. Most of them have serrated crimps...Ive been doing it this way for a long time....

Great Taste!!!-------- Less Filling!!
Great Taste!!--------- Less Filling!

Well, I went back to this job yesterday and re-spliced everything (without the block) just stripped the wires, twisted them together, and then crimped the beanies on. Nothing worked. Then I just cut the beanies and twisted everything together, and it all worked. However, it is a big mess. My customer does have one of theose residential phone punchdown units, I think I am going to go back and put that in for him.

Jeff - something just doesn't sound right! You say you STRIPPED the wires and then put the beanies on and nothing worked! Hmmmm....as Artie Johnson used to say on Laugh-In, "V-E-R-Y Interesting!"

Jeff...it really sounds like you arent compressing the "chiclets" hard enough...

I have always used the inside of the dykes or needle nose to compress them and never had problems...either that or you may be tristed the wires together so tight that they break when you jam them inside the "chiclet"....

I have been using linesman pliers to crimp them. At home, I did some splices with beanies just to test things out,without stripping the wires, and everything worked fine. On occasion, I have also used a crimper for insulated crimp connectors (spade lugs, ring terminals, etc) and the connections were fine.

Dear GKAR, Re: Inexperienced; I started with Michigan Bell (Where I was taught the proper way to use beanies - without stripping) in 1969. You're welcome!