Insulation piercing connectors and methods and connections including same

A method for mechanically and electrically connecting first and second cables, the first cable including an elongate first electrical conductor covered by a first insulation layer, the second cable including an elongate second electrical conductor covered by a second insulation layer, the method comprising:

• providing an electrical connector comprising:
• a connector body including first, second and third body members including axially spaced apart first, second and third jaw portions, respectively, wherein:
• a first cable slot is defined between the first and third jaw portions to receive the first cable;
• a second cable slot is defined between the second and third jaw portions to receive the second cable;
• and
• the first and second body members are telescopingly arranged to permit the first and second body members to slide relative to one another along a slide axis;
• an electrically conductive first insulation piercing feature on the connector body, wherein the first insulation piercing feature is configured to pierce through the first insulation layer and electrically engage the first electrical conductor;
• an electrically conductive second insulation piercing feature on the connector body and electrically connected to the first insulation piercing feature, wherein the second insulation piercing feature is configured to pierce through the second insulation layer and electrically engage the second electrical conductor;
• and
• a compression mechanism configured and operable to apply a clamping load along a clamping axis;
• and
• placing the first and second cables in the electrical connector such that the first and second electrical conductors are aligned along the clamping axis;
• and
• operating the compression mechanism to apply the clamping load along the clamping axis extending through both of the first and second electrical conductors to force the first insulation piercing feature into electrical engagement with the first electrical conductor and to force the second insulation piercing feature into electrical engagement with the second electrical conductor to thereby provide electrical continuity between the first and second electrical conductors;
• wherein the first, second and third jaw portions are relatively slidable along the slide axis substantially parallel with the clamping axis to independently adjust the sizes of the first and second cable slots when the compression mechanism is operated to apply the clamping load along the clamping axis.