Cap Connector "You Can't Screw Up" Profile

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Mar 31, 2017

One company, CaP Connectors, is marketing their coax connectors as “The 30-second Connector You Can’t Screw Up”, by claiming to combine the best attributes of others in a single design.

But is it worth using? Inside we examine CaP's claims, see how the product works, how the pricing compares and what they key advantages and disadvantages are.

*** *******,*** **********, ** ********* ***** coax ********** **“*** **-****** ********* *** Can’t ***** **”, ** ******** ** combine *** **** ********** of ****** ** * single ******.

*** ** ** ***** using?****** ** ******* ***'* claims, *** *** *** product *****, *** *** pricing ******** *** **** they *** ********** *** disadvantages ***.

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A ****** *****/****-** ***

*** ********** ** ***'* connectors ** ********* *** simple ************ ** *****-** connectors **** *** ******** reliability ** * ******* connector. ** *** ***** surveillance ******, ********** ***** choose *****-** ********** *** speed, ***** ******* ******* tools ** ****** *** needed, ** ***********/***** ********** for ****-*******, ******** ***********.

*************, ****** ****** ***** to **** **** *********. Primarily,*****-** ************* *** ********** *** pull *** *** ***** end ******, ********** ***************** ******* ************ *****, have **** *** ****** to ** ********* *********, and ******* ************ *****.

***'* ********** **** * gap ******* **** *****, claiming ****** *******, **** quality ************, *** **-********* if '****** *******' *** needed.

Connector *******

*** ****** ***** ************* * *** **** assembly **** ** ******* together **** * ******* handtool **** *********.

*** *** **** ** the ********* ** * metal *********** ******* ******** formats **** ***, ***, F-Type, ** ********* **** connections. *** ****** **** is * ****-******* ***** that ***** * *********** fit ****** *** ***** when **** **** *** clamped ******** ** ***** hand ******** ****.

***** **** ** *** steps, *********** ******* *** jacket *** ******* ** back **** *** ****** half ******** ** *** cable ***, ********** *** dielectric *** **** ******** on *** ***** *********** end ****** ******** ** closed **** *** ******** tool.

*** ************ ****** *** system ** *********, *** the '*** **** ********* fits ***, **** ****-**** through *** ****, ******, HDsdi, ***, ***, *** AHD', *** **** '*** connector ****** ** ****** off, *** ** *** be ******* *** ***********' with *** **** ****.

*** ********* *** ***** designed ** *****, **** the ************ ******** ** can ** ********* ** about ** *******, ****** installers '****, *****, *** inventory'.

Demo *****

***** ** *** ************'* video ******* *** ********* install ******* ** ******:

Wistia video player

Unit ****

****** ***** ** * CaP ********* ** ***** $2.20 ***. **** ******* is ******* **** ********* than ******* ***** *** connectors **** ***** **** ~$1 ****, *** ***** can ** ******** ** bulk ** ******* *** $0.50 - $*.** ****. Compression ********** ********* **** for ~$*.** ****.

******* *** ********** **** including *** ******** ********* piece, ***** **** *** clamping **** **** ****~$***. ** ********, * similar *********** *** ***** traditional ********** *** ******* tools ***~$***, ******** ******* ***** out ** ** ***** number ** ********** *** $50 - $**.

Advantages ***

***** *** ***** *** advantages ** *** *** connector ******** ** ******* coax **********:

**** **** ******* ** cables:*** ****** ** *** connector ****** ** ** be **** ** **** cables **** **** **** RG6 **** ******. ********* grades ** ***** *** compatible, ********* ****** ****** of **-**, **-*, ** to **-** **** *** grommet *** ** *** away. **** ********** *** need ** ***** ********* connectors *** **** **** for ********* *****, ****** and ***-******, ****** *** outdoor, ***.
********:*** ********** *** ** removed *** ************, ****** typical *********** ** ***** connectors. **** ** ********** useful *** ******** **** ************ **** with ****, ** **** provide **** ********** ******* mistakes *** ** ************* and ******** *** ******* of ********* ** ******* tools **** *** ****** used.
********* *******:*** ***-********* **** ******* can ** **** ** connect ********* ***** ***** with **** *** ***** component. ********/******** ** ********* accomplished **** * ******** coupler.

Disadvantages ***

***** *** *** *************, as ****:

****** *****:******** ** ******* **********, CaP ** **** *********. Even ** ** ************* tech ******** *-* ***** to ******** ********* * crimp *********, ** *** still **** **** **** one ***.
** ************ ******:*** **** *** ***** a ************ ********* ******, while ***** *** ********* in ***** *** *********** models. ****** **** *********** are ********* *** ******** exposed ** *** *******, this *** ** * concern ** **** ************.

Potential / *******

*** ***** *** ** not ********* **** **** coax, *** ** ****** attractive, ******* *** ****** price. *** *** ** a ****** ********* *** tool *** ****** *** coax ***** ******* *** stock **** **** ** kept ** **** ** well ** *** ********* required ** ******** *****/******* the ***** ********* *** the ***** ****. ************, reusability ***** ** *** down **** *** **** frustration ******** ** ***** or *********** ******.

*******, ***** *** ********** use *** ****** ************ of *********** **** **********, installation *****, *** ******** installer ***** ****, ** is ****** **** **** established ********** **** ** working **** **** **** continue ***** ***** **** crimp *******. ********** *********** the ****** *****, ***'* benefits ** *** ****** outweigh *** ***** *** high ****** *** *********** surveillance *******.

Comments (24)

Claude Bernard

03/31/17 02:02pm

We use these types of connector a number of years ago and over time we found that the cap had at times come loose and you didn't have a solid connection anymore. Mostly occurs on the DVR side in scenarios where there may be a bit of technician activity at these cable ends.

We found that on the camera side where there was never any activity they stayed on and were a more compact fit than other types of connectors.

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 03/31/17 02:07pm

What does Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maserati have to do with coax connectors?

Have you tested these, or is this just an FYI? I would like to see some testing before even considering them. We currently use ICM/Belden Double Bubble connectors and rarely have a need to terminate twice. Only time is usually due to substandard cable.

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 03/31/17 02:27pm

We have not tested these, but if there's enough member interest we would.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 03/31/17 07:07pm

What does Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maserati have to do with [CaP] coax connectors?

They are all examples of Italian engineering which trades cost for speed.

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | 03/31/17 02:10pm

compression or bust

Randall Raszick

03/31/17 02:14pm

This seems like a problem in search of a solution. Coax crimping tools are not exactly expensive, and it seems like this is a new proprietary tool needed to use a more expensive connector. Likewise I don't see the benefit of being able to re-use a BNC connector when the unit prices are so low. It would also appear that the manufacturer is targeting a dying market given that the majority of non-stop and rob or residential installations are using IP infrastructure. Maybe I'm missing something.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

03/31/17 02:19pm

I came across this product about 6 years ago and bought quite a bit of it. Worked absolutely fine, not just for BNC but Satellite cable etc as well. Good quality pliers too and at times quite handy that you could remove the BNC if crimped on prematurely without having to cut if off and use a new one. The actual BNC connectors where quite expensive however.

Matt Ion

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 03/31/17 02:31pm

Hmmm I was gonna say, I definitely remember reading something about these (or a similar concept) several years ago... back when I still used BNC. Good to know I'm not imagining things ;)

Randall Raszick

03/31/17 02:24pm

I didn't even think about the satellite cable aspect of it, my experience has been crimping and pulling RG-6/RG-59 in the past, going wayyy back to 10Base2 networks and analog CCTV.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

03/31/17 03:04pm

I have only ever used crimp type connectors and as long as you have a good quality 3 blade stripper and crimping tool if you take more than 1 minute to terminate you are doing something wrong. Dare I say it, I buy direct from China in lots of 300 - 500 at a time at a cost of about $0.20 each and have never had a problem with quality. Yes I may have had to crimp again at times (have been interrupted or distracted whilst doing it) but hey wasting another minute and $0.20 less than 1% of the time is a bearable cost.

Why reinvent a more expensive process/tool.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 03/31/17 03:14pm

I've never seen anything like the CaP connectors, but I do remember some companies pushing these "universal" F connectors years ago, specifically for electrical contractors getting into home structured cabling.

You basically slipped it onto the cable, stripped and trimmed, and then pushed the cap over everything to "lock" it onto the whatever you're connecting to. Except they didn't really "lock" and you could pull them out with minimal force.

Howard Kohnstamm

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/03/17 04:28pm

Ethan,

If you pulled the cable out with minimal force, then they were not installed properly. Normally the cable jacket will tear before the connector pulls loose. Again, the biggest mistake is where the installer "strips" the cable instead of just "splitting" the jacket.

Regards,

Howard

Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/31/17 05:32pm

I really appreciate these kinds of articles finding unique product that we would otherwise not find unless conducting time intensive searches ourselves. I am interested in anything that cuts down on install time as our labor costs per hour are significant. The lack of weatherproofing is somewhat of a challenge on some our installs but I still will purchase a set to test out. The price per connector is less of an issue due to reusability (mistakes happen) and it is more than offset by labor costs if it saves just one minute of time in the field.

Howard Kohnstamm

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 04/10/17 01:20am

The Black CaP's are UV rated and have a grommet on the cable end which makes a tight seal. The issue is on the BNC connector itself. I am not aware of any BNC that is designed to be in the weather without secondary protection. I always suggest that connections be made indoors or in a weather proof enclosure.

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 03/31/17 11:53pm

We used them and all the techs hated them. They never stayed on properly. In hindsight it may because we were never taught to strip coax properly....

Howard Kohnstamm

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jay Hobdy | 04/01/17 01:43am

[Notice: Poster is from CaP]

Jay, an issues occurs when tech's attempt to "strip" the cable like they would for most other connectors. The CaP connectors use a unique approach where the cable is only "split." A small amount of the dielectric is removed to expose the center conductor. The wire is inserted into the fingers of the metal portion and the plastic CaP is pressed on. It makes a sandwich with the jacket held between the plastic CaP and the metal connector. Is like a finger puzzle, the harder you pull the tighter is grabs. When done properly, the connector cannot be pulled off but can be removed and reused.

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Howard Kohnstamm | 04/01/17 11:20am

I believe we were stripping them the wrong way then.

What we found odd was it was a one size fits all connector, and we were having issues with the the smaller RG59 cable. The connectors were not tight at all.

But after that explanation, I believe we were prepping the cable the wrong way.

At this point, we do so little coax, not a big deal. We only work on coax in existing infrastructure.