I thought those new push-fit coax connectors were just a gimmick

Had a job in a tight attic crawlspace in Tempe last month, and my regular crimp tool was a pain to use up there. The homeowner had a pack of those push-fit ones, so I tried one out of pure frustration. Honestly, it held a solid signal and saved me like 15 minutes of awkward positioning. Has anyone else given these a real shot on a job, or did I just get lucky?

4 comments

4 Comments

victor_nelson2mo ago

Wait, wire nuts on coax? That's wild. @jordan511, a crimp would definitely beat that, but these push fits are way better than nuts for sure.

tessap972mo ago

People focus too much on the tool and not the situation. A crimp is fine in an open basement, but attics and crawlspaces change the game. The real test is if the connection lasts through temperature swings and vibration. If it passes that, the method doesn't matter. Saving time without a call back is the whole point.

jordan5112mo ago

You're right about the real test being lasting through temperature swings. I once saw a wire nut fail in an attic after a hot summer, but the crimp next to it was fine. That stuck with me, @tessap97. It made me less picky about the tool and more about the spot.

williams.luna25d ago

Honestly, how many attics are we really talking about here? Most connections are in a normal wall cavity and never see that kind of heat. I get what @tessap97 is saying about the extreme spots, but for a regular outlet swap in a living room, it feels like overkill. If a basic wire nut from the hardware store lasts twenty years in most houses, that's good enough for me. Chasing the perfect connection for every single box just isn't worth the extra time or money.