what are the advantages / disadvantages of soldering wires together versus crimping them with a connector?

 

I could not agree more....Teken ROCKS

 

One comment on this, cleaning and retining an iron does not assist in the flowing of the applied solder to the work. It does assist in the heat transfer to the joint being soldered.

Flux is what will assist in flowing the applied solder to the work. Make sure you use either a no clean or a rosin based flux. Also make sure that the solder you use either has the same type of flux core or no core at all. The reason for the specific types of flux is it corrosiveness. Rosin is not that corrosive at room temperature.

Clean your solder joint after you solder it. Alcohol works best to clean rosin.

They make a water soluble flux which I would not recommend for soldering wire either. It creates the best solder joints but it is very corrosive, so if any is left behind it will corrode the wire over time. Since the flux creeps down into the jacket it almost impossible to clean. Under no circumstances use an acid based flux.



[Modified by nsxxtreme, 10:55 PM 7/22/2002]

 

I didn't think a new topic would be necessay, so I'll just add to this. Could someone post a picture of a good wire-to-wire solder connection? I'm installing my stereo this weekend (hopefully) and want to get the best possible connection. I'm still learning how to solder and my first attempts look like crap and I'd like to have some sort of comparison of what I should end up with. Thanks.

 

haha I guess my connections aren't bad then... I usually solder, shrink tube, electrical tape the whole length of wire, then use the wire conduit and zip ties... my friend told me thats overkill and to just use crimp/butt connectors...

 

crimping is just fine for everyday use, but soldering is much nicer, perminent, and time consuming. i crimp radios but solder alarms at work.

 

damn i just came home from radio shack looking to purchase a soldering iron. there are many different kinds wtih diff ratings and they all have a plug to power them. thats pretty impractical for use in a car. do they make any type of self battery powered ones? what kind should i look to get?

 

They make battery and butane powered solderers, but I bought a plug-in one. I'm not so lazy that I can't run an extension cord to my car.

From what I've read, 25-40 watts is a decent powered solderer for electronics. Mine is 40 watts and does just fine. HTH.

 

Just get the Radio shack brand that's around 20 bucks. That one should be good for your average work; radio install, wires in the engine bay, ect.... It's not adjustable, but for the money it's not bad. And you can get an ac/dc converter to take it with you anywhere, but those are kind of pricey. I'm not sure if they have cordless soldering guns, but they should like everything else. Don't know if a cordless one's charge would last that long, kinda like the cordless dremel.

 

they make butane powered ones.. but I just have a corded one... our house has a garage and theres electrical outlets in the garage so its not a problem for me.. I guess maybe if you lived in an apt where parking is just outside.. or its parking stalls w/o electrical outlets a corded one might be a problem..but for me I just have a corded one and run an extension cord from the outlet in the garage to my car (the cord that comes w/ the soldering iron isn't that long)..

 

I buy the cheapest piece of crap iron I can find for sodering wires. The wires aren't sensitive to overheating. I think my Iron is 45w.

The best thing to clean a soldering iron is a brass wire brush fine threads of course

For certain things I use my $1000 metcal, tips are $75

For outdoor car use just buy a cheapy they just get thrown around and more than likely you will end up melting the cord. Or stepping on it and getting it stuck to your shoe.



[Modified by nsxxtreme, 3:52 PM 7/24/2002]

 

or finding the hot end of the iron with the side of your leg while doin an alarm

 

You're right can't beat that one, but close. Stuck in the trunk of a car upside down, and a big drip of solder comes crashing down on my arm. And it's not like I can move around to get it off because i'm stuck in a small *** trunk. So i try to get out but by that time it was already cool so i peel it off, and now left with a big *** burn and green discoloration aroung the burn. Not pretty.

 

7. Practice, practice, and more practice is the key...

Amen. I get better and better every time I have to connect something.

 

I installed a DC -> AC inverter in my car to use soldering irons, laptops, etc.
I live in apartments with no outlets near my parking, so it's a very practical install.
Unfortunately, it doesn't provide enough juice to run my shop vac. Haven't tried it with a drill or dremel yet.

It's radio shack variety 300Watt. Rated to 600W for startup of TVs, monitors.

 

doesn't that drain your battery pretty quick? or do you start yout car when you need your DC to AC inverter to power your soldering iron and pull the fuse to whatever your wiring/soldering?

I guess I'm really lucky I've got a garage w/ electrical outlets, shop lights, and shelving for all my tools so I don't have to worry about running wires or powering things....

but yeah when I was in college I lived in Apt/Condo's so I know what u guys are going through.. my apt was a way from my parking stall and I think I'd violate some sort of condo rule if I was to run an extension cord from outside the kitchen window to my parking stall ... management was bitchy

but anyway doesn't that inverter kill your battery? my audio system drains my battery to the point where the car won't start anymore in about 5-10 minutes if I don't start the engine.. then again I have 2 amps and its over 2K watts and also have a DSP/EQ display to power in addition to the head unit and changer... but I'd be worried about draining the battery to the point where it wont start

oh yeah on the Bosch relays... german car/auto part dealers probably carry them... I think a lot of stuff is by bosch in my parents and sisters cars...not sure if Kragen or Autozone carries them.. they carry bosch plug wires (in the back/counter).. so maybe if u ask at the parts counter they might have Bosch relays in the back also.. I know they have cheap stuff like Pilot or Blazer out in the isles Lolz... try asking at the parts counter.. maybe they don't put it out..

 

I usually have tha car running when I use the inverter, no problems at all. Running my Girlfriends lap[top (which has no battery capacity) for 4.5 hours.

 

Just a quick question. I've read up on soldering, and atleast a couple sources have said that soldering wires (or whatever else) together that have components (ie: speakers, window controls, etc.) connected to them can be damaged by the heat generated from the iron. I may be doing what this ( http://www.teamdelsol.com/howto/door...doorwiring.htm ) guy did when I go to install my stereo this weekend.

Any comments/experiences/recommendations on this?

 

I solder everything

 

I did this once when I installed my smart windows. The grease they use is a pain in the ***. I didn't cut all the wires like that though. I just cut a hole in the unused portion of the connector. I slid the new wiring through the hole.

Try practicing solder some wire before you try this. You should be able to do it without melting the sleeveing. The problems you mentioned are usually caused by someone holding the iron on the connection to long. Make sure you keep your tip clean and tinned. Use flux and you should be fine.