Cordless soldering irons, wire splicing |
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Cordless soldering irons, wire splicing |
vitamin914 |
Mar 30 2022, 05:46 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
I have mostly used soldering stations (Metcal and Hakko) that have adjustable temperature controls. Great for benchwork, not so much when you are upside down under the dash.
Weller, Milwaukee, Hakko make some battery powered units and Ive seen some no name butane powered irons. None seem to have much in the way of good temperature control. Twenty years ago I had a butane micro torch / soldiering iron - didn't like it at all. The solder would oxidize in seconds (dross up) and I was forever trying to keeping it clean no matter how low I kept the flame. Put it down the wrong way and the exhaust port would burn the table. I did like the micro torch tip for shrinking heat shrink tubing but that was about it. Anyone have experiences with newer cordless soldering irons - battery or butane? |
ClayPerrine |
Mar 30 2022, 02:31 PM
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#2
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Life's been good to me so far..... Group: Admin Posts: 15,806 Joined: 11-September 03 From: Hurst, TX. Member No.: 1,143 Region Association: NineFourteenerVille |
I have always properly spliced and and soldered wires for automotive use. But I ALWAYS use a "Lineman's Splice". Western Union invented them back in the 1800s, ad they are still in use today.
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2022/01/09/t...ess-in-6-steps/ I have worked on cars for my whole life. I have never seen a properly done solder joint in a harness fail. I have seen lots of failures of solder joints that were done in a half-assed manner. The worst one was a Ferrari 308 with a cold solder joint in the start lead. But that was typical Italian wiring. With proper strain relief, a soldered joint is more reliable than a crimped joint. NASA has a standard for soldering wiring for rockets. https://standards.nasa.gov/standard/nasa/nasa-std-87394 But I also agree that a proper soldered connection is much harder to do than a crimped connection. @Superhawk996 did you ever stop to think that crimping a joint is cheaper and faster to make than a soldered joint? Maybe that is the reason the big car manufacturers do it? |
Superhawk996 |
Mar 30 2022, 03:01 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,469 Joined: 25-August 18 From: Woods of N. Idaho Member No.: 22,428 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
@Superhawk996 did you ever stop to think that crimping a joint is cheaper and faster to make than a soldered joint? Maybe that is the reason the big car manufacturers do it? Indeed I have. It is not just automotive that prefers crimped connectors. I think we are splitting hairs to a degree. As previously noted by others, a soldered splice in a section of harness that isn't being exposed to bending stress and has no cyclic fatigue is a low probability of failure. I think we can all agree on that. The bigger issue is improper use of acid core flux which will corrode copper wiring. Most folks grab what is at hand and will use it without knowing to avoid acid core for electronics. I have seen the NASA standard you reference and agree that there are acceptable uses for soldered splices, but as you note, most people don't do them well. With respect to terminations, the data is very clear that for terminations (i.e. at terminals, ring connectors, pins, etc.) that a crimped connection is superior. This has been proven out in laboratory testing with cyclic fatigue on shaker tables. In the same manner here is NASA's own word on the robustness of crimped terminations. https://workmanship.nasa.gov/lib/insp/2%20b...quirements.html I do admit that I'm a bit black and white on this and prefer crimped connectors all around. This is based on years of experience seeing where and how often soldered connections (especially at terminations) failed in the field. Excerpt from the standard Clay referenced: 13.3 Assembly of Solder-Type Connectors 13.3.1 Wire shall be bent only in flexible, unwicked parts of the conductor to maintain stress relief for solder dipped conductors. In all instances, stranded conductors will experience solder- wicking during attachment. The conductor will be rigid up to the point where the wicking stops and flexible beyond it. Wire movement concentrates stress at the point where wicking stops and normal harness handling can produce conductor fatigue and failure. 13.3.2 Solid conductors shall be assembled in contacts by soldering, and cleaned and inspected in accordance with the latest revision of IPC J-STD-001FS. 13.3.3 Contact mating surfaces and solder joints shall be cleaned to remove flux residue following the soldering operation. Note: CAUTION: WHERE SOLDER CONTACTS HAVE FLOAT, FLUX MAY RUN DOWN ONTO THE MATING SURFACE OF THE CONTACT DURING SOLDERING AND CAUSE INTERMITTENT AND OPEN CIRCUITS. By no means do I want this to be perceived as a personal attack on Clay. |
ClayPerrine |
Mar 30 2022, 08:13 PM
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#4
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Life's been good to me so far..... Group: Admin Posts: 15,806 Joined: 11-September 03 From: Hurst, TX. Member No.: 1,143 Region Association: NineFourteenerVille |
By no means do I want this to be perceived as a personal attack on Clay. I didn't take it as such. And I never intended this as a personal attack on you. We all have different experiences. Sharing them means that we can learn from each other and we can all improve on what we know. You are never too old to learn something new. Clay |
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