I’ve come through the school of hard knocks when it comes to low voltage wiring. I’m self taught but I believe that I know quite a bit. I’ve become quite proficient at coax, twisted pair wiring. My projects have been an extensive video distribution system for my TV (which has been Satellite but is now Cable), security cameras (as much a hobby as they are for security) and a wired home network for probably 40 network ports and close to the same number of telephone ports (obviously I have a wireless network too but that doesn’t require wiring).
I have over time migrated to compression fittings from Thomas & Betts which make the Snap N Seal system. I’ve been very happy with this system and gotten great results. The link above is to the manufacturer. You will need to google to find retailers for the tools and parts to get some yourself.
The reason for this post is that in the last 2 years, I have seen the cable industry, through their visits to my house, go to a “simpler” compression fitting.
- The Snap N Seal system is essentially a 2 part system. You slide a sleeve over the cable, strip the cable, peal back the wiring/insulation, slide down the fitting till the white part of the inside of the cable is through the fitting (with the inside copper wire sticking out) and then you compress the sleeve to the fitting and it’s down. Again, great results!
- The stuff I’ve seen from the cable industry is a single part. You strip the cable, peal back the wiring/insulation, slide down the fitting till the white part of the inside of the cable is through the fitting (with the inside copper wire sticking out) and then you compress one piece fitting down. It’s simpler and the cables that I’ve gotten from the cable company have had equally good results.
Now, I was at Frys (a local big/enormous electronics store that does computers, TVs, and higher end Radio Shack kind of stuff) and I found a single piece compression fitting system so I decided to get it and try it. My first few attempts at it were not good. I have been unable to get the fitting down so that the white part of the cable is through the fitting. This is essential for a good cable so this is a problem. I’m not sure if it is the fitting or the cable. I will keep trying. The compression bit worked well. Also, I found a stripper for both coax and twisted pair while I was there that is just fabulous so that part of the trip was great.
At this point, Snap N Seal is still the big winner but I will try this other system a few more times with some other cable and give it some more evaluation. I’d love to hear if anyone else has knowledge of a single component compression system that beats Snap N Seal! Let me know.