Proper way to use a B-wire connector

Factual Questions
1

I’ve also seen these called Beans or chicklets. Basically vinyl covered caps that get squished onto the end of telecom/low voltage wiring splices.

Anyway… I’ve got a box, and am now wondering:

  1. The wires should be stripped, correct?
  2. Should they be twisted before insertion/crimping?
  3. Should the insulation be part of what gets crimped?
  4. Do you crimp the length of the connector, or just one spot?
2
  1. The wires should be stripped, correct? Yes, about 1/4".
  2. Should they be twisted before insertion/crimping? No, that’s not generally necessary, although with very thin wires, it does help make a better connection.
  3. Should the insulation be part of what gets crimped? No. Only the bare wire should be under the crimp, but the insulation should be as close to the crimp as possible.
  4. Do you crimp the length of the connector, or just one spot? Just one spot, just beyond the insulation.
3

Wires less than about 16 guage do not need to be stripped. Do not twist. Crimp just one spot.

4

There is considerable disagreement on this in the field. FWIW, I’ve always stripped them first. They’re supposed to be IDC-type crimps, but I’ve had occasional failures so now I always strip when I use these types.

5

Just to clarify, or possibly to confuse - the “jellybean” connectors used in phone wiring are to be used on unstripped and untwisted wires. Small wires too - typically 20 or 22 gage.

The confusing being that I’ve also seen these things called beans or chicklets.

6

Hmmm. Maybe they call em all beans/chicklets.

I’ve used the ones you’ve linked to before, and I like them. A nice satysfying little ‘crunch’ that makes you feel like nothing is going anywhere, and also that the goo on the inside of the conenctor will keep the bare wires warm, dry, and well fed.

I just crimped a few of the ‘B’ connectors I originally posted about… not at all satysfying. Even though a good tug on them didn’t dislodge anything… I still, for some strange reason, don’t trust the connection. Maybe I need to buy the proper crimping tool; but before I would do that, I’d just swap to the ones pictured in your link.

(This is all wiring for an alarm system, so I really want to be able to not worry about the connections)

7

having worked for ma bell i can tell you i have yet to see the correct instructions for the CORRECT use of b-wire connectors.
1st only 2 wires are to be joined in a “beanie”
only 22awg or smaller wire
never strip the wire
never twist the wire together
twisting the wire weakens the wire by causing it to pinch itself on itself at the
twists
the 2 pieces of unstripped wire are inserted into the beanie next to / parallel to each other
a special crimping tool is used to properly cromp the beanie
never the inside hinge side of a pair of dykes or pliers

thats the correct bell system practice technique

8

i refer to that connector as a zombean