Hi all-
I'm wanting to solder my connections on my next install and am looking for tips on this subject. I have a little experience with soldering but any direction would be greatly appreciated.
Replies (5)
uochronos on 05/18/2004 03:50:04
Soldering isnt too hard i taught myself and it didnt take too long. i suggest soldering as much as you can on a desk then pluging the stuff in the car. i have seen people try to solder everythign right in the car and it tends to be hard and make a mess.
also if you want to go the lazy route like i well my next time they now sell little rubber wire connector with solder in the center you place both wire in the center then heat it up with a sodering iron or very carefully with a small torch and the solder melts and ruber heat shrinks to the wire. so then tyou have an easy emss free soder that is also water proof. i saw these at auto zone and would assume many other places carry them.
swez on 05/18/2004 10:31:10
Here's a link to soldering tips that should help.
http://www.bcae1.com/solder.htm
Swez
sawyer16v on 05/18/2004 12:08:10
Thanks for the replies guys. I've actually seen that page before, swez, as I've searched the subject quite a bit. My biggest problem is understanding how to connect large (4-8 awg)seamless crimp connectors to appropriate wire. I'm thinking that I should strip extra length of wire, insert into connector so extra length is sticking out of terminal end, then fold the wire strands back on the outside of the connector, solder and be done. Ideas? Also, efficient way to strip large power wire?
sawyer16v
Pinch on 05/18/2004 13:56:22
The problem with soldering any large conductor (like 4 awg wire for example) is that your average iron can't heat all of the metal quick enough for a uniform solder joint to occur. Remember, you're trying to melt the solder with the heated metal, not with the tip of the iron. What ends up happening is the solder melts to the wire, but cools quickly and forms what is known as a "cold solder joint." These are bad mechanically (they won't hold the wires together) and electrically (oxidation can occur over time and prevent a good electrical bond). My experience has been that a torch is best for large solder applications. Use the torch to heat up the conductor (the crimped 4-8 awg in your case) and then melt the solder into the metal. You'll know it's hot enough if the solder seems to penetrate the strands of the wire instead of pooling on the outside.
As for stripping large wires? I've used wire strippers (the kind that go up to like 12 awg) on 4 awg by rotating the teeth of the strippers around the wire until the insullation is cut, but I like a pocket knife better. Grab the knife in your favored hand and stick your thumb out parallel to the blade. Hold the wire with your other hand and squeeze the part you want to strip between the blade and your outstreached thumb. Use your thumb to rotate the wire until you've cut a full rotation of insullation. Then pull off the piece you've cut and you should have a neatly stripped wire. Obviously, this can be dangerous since it involves an open knife moving very close to your finger. Just treat it like you're peeling an orange in the kitchen and you'll be fine. :)
uochronos on 05/18/2004 14:24:46
i agree with pinch i just recently did 2 gauge wire. i put the wire terminal in a bench vice and had a friend start heating it with a torch then i heated the wire with a torch till it was very hot filled the inside of the terminal with sodler then shoved the extremly got wire into the hole. not sure if this is the proper way to do it but it did make a seamless conection.
I'm wanting to solder my connections on my next install and am looking for tips on this subject. I have a little experience with soldering but any direction would be greatly appreciated.
Replies (5)
uochronos on 05/18/2004 03:50:04
Soldering isnt too hard i taught myself and it didnt take too long. i suggest soldering as much as you can on a desk then pluging the stuff in the car. i have seen people try to solder everythign right in the car and it tends to be hard and make a mess.
also if you want to go the lazy route like i well my next time they now sell little rubber wire connector with solder in the center you place both wire in the center then heat it up with a sodering iron or very carefully with a small torch and the solder melts and ruber heat shrinks to the wire. so then tyou have an easy emss free soder that is also water proof. i saw these at auto zone and would assume many other places carry them.
swez on 05/18/2004 10:31:10
Here's a link to soldering tips that should help.
http://www.bcae1.com/solder.htm
Swez
sawyer16v on 05/18/2004 12:08:10
Thanks for the replies guys. I've actually seen that page before, swez, as I've searched the subject quite a bit. My biggest problem is understanding how to connect large (4-8 awg)seamless crimp connectors to appropriate wire. I'm thinking that I should strip extra length of wire, insert into connector so extra length is sticking out of terminal end, then fold the wire strands back on the outside of the connector, solder and be done. Ideas? Also, efficient way to strip large power wire?
sawyer16v
Pinch on 05/18/2004 13:56:22
The problem with soldering any large conductor (like 4 awg wire for example) is that your average iron can't heat all of the metal quick enough for a uniform solder joint to occur. Remember, you're trying to melt the solder with the heated metal, not with the tip of the iron. What ends up happening is the solder melts to the wire, but cools quickly and forms what is known as a "cold solder joint." These are bad mechanically (they won't hold the wires together) and electrically (oxidation can occur over time and prevent a good electrical bond). My experience has been that a torch is best for large solder applications. Use the torch to heat up the conductor (the crimped 4-8 awg in your case) and then melt the solder into the metal. You'll know it's hot enough if the solder seems to penetrate the strands of the wire instead of pooling on the outside.
As for stripping large wires? I've used wire strippers (the kind that go up to like 12 awg) on 4 awg by rotating the teeth of the strippers around the wire until the insullation is cut, but I like a pocket knife better. Grab the knife in your favored hand and stick your thumb out parallel to the blade. Hold the wire with your other hand and squeeze the part you want to strip between the blade and your outstreached thumb. Use your thumb to rotate the wire until you've cut a full rotation of insullation. Then pull off the piece you've cut and you should have a neatly stripped wire. Obviously, this can be dangerous since it involves an open knife moving very close to your finger. Just treat it like you're peeling an orange in the kitchen and you'll be fine. :)
uochronos on 05/18/2004 14:24:46
i agree with pinch i just recently did 2 gauge wire. i put the wire terminal in a bench vice and had a friend start heating it with a torch then i heated the wire with a torch till it was very hot filled the inside of the terminal with sodler then shoved the extremly got wire into the hole. not sure if this is the proper way to do it but it did make a seamless conection.
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