Re: Step down butt connectors
Step-down butt connectors don't seem to be made for those wire sizes since none are readily found.<br /><br />Don't know what you're using those wires for, but presume you do know that 6 AWG has significantly more ampacity than 8 AWG (120 amps vs. 80 amps). So be sure that you're not going to try to put 6 AWG worth of amps through 8 AWG wire by connecting the two together. If your load requires 6 AWG ampacity, your best bet is to run one continuous 6 AWG wire from source to load.<br /><br />If you won't have more than 8 AWG worth of amps and you want to stay with the different size wires then IMHO you've just got a few options:<br /> (1) Use the correct size ring lug on each wire and connect both to a common terminal, like a battery post, or<br /> (2) Nut and bolt the two ring lugs together, then wrap with electrical tape, or<br /> (3) Use a larger butt connector (for 4 AWG) and stick both the 6 AWG and 8 AWG completely through the connector so that the stripped ends show on opposite sides, then properly crimp and adhesive-lined shrink tube over the connector. Diagrams on the Ancor website show the 4 AWG butt connector to be 21mm all the way through, and the 6 and 8 AWG to be 13mm and 8mm respectively, so this should work.<br /><br />Whatever you choose to do, just be sure to make a real good crimp to avoid any high resistance connections that cause heating when the amps are flowing. Good luck.