Soldering

[timo]

Anyone using soldering when joing conductors? Regs says its a method that can be used that doesnt need to be accessable for inspection. So just wondering if anyone solders their joints and heat shrinks etc?

Is there a certain flux/solder for the job?

 

[andekoch]

by solder are you talking about 'electronics' type soldering irons (ie small 10-50W irons at least that is what I think they are) and lead solder?

I agree the crimps need to be longer. also while on that how do oyu know your ratchet crimper is crimping at the correct pressure. My new one seemed to be a bit low, ie when I tugged on the connections some came loose. So I just upped the pressure via the adjuster. So the question is how much pressure is too much pressure?

 

[bugsy]

Decent crimpers will have dedicated apatures foe each size crimp
Crimps above 6mm will have the size stamped on the dye which will also be indented into the crimp once crimped

 

[empress]

Where does it say that? I was under the impression we werent allowed to solder. Would love to be proved wrong, and especially if we don't have to have accessible jointing.

I do a lot of miniature soldering i.e. elecronics. I always use old leaded solder (got a stockpile of it - thanks dad!) and just plain old plumbers flux. There's probably a reason I shouldn't, but I find all electrical grade flux a pile of poo. If you do use plumbing flux though, make sure you clean the area down well after as it's water based.

yep decent plumbers flux is pretty nasty stuff when left on copper after soldering.
needs wiping off with a damp cloth or it turns the joint green and keeps on "eating".

 

[uksel]

Where did get 95mm flex from?

he may be on about tri-rated cables as opposed to 'flex'??? perhaps

 

[bugsy]

yep decent plumbers flux is pretty nasty stuff when left on copper after soldering.
needs wiping off with a damp cloth or it turns the joint green and keeps on "eating".

That will be the flux then

 

[pennywise]

We did 300mm stranded tails before, trying to get all the strands into a crimp lug was was a pain in the back side.

Wago lever connectors all the way, crimped connections when size is of the essence

 

[andekoch]

Decent crimpers will have dedicated apatures foe each size crimp
Crimps above 6mm will have the size stamped on the dye which will also be indented into the crimp once crimped

My crimpers have 3 indents - blue, red, yellow. Plus a small (lockable) adjusting wheel to increase or decrease the crimp pressure.
Just trying to figure out how to determine how much is correct. On the failed joints I can clearly see where the crimp has 'bitten' into the cable. Perhaps it is just the odd bad crimp that is the cause of the failure and not the tool. I have also found that if I hold the tool closed for a few seconds before it auto releases that the joint is a much better joint.

 

[pennywise]

The quality of the crimps themselves are more important than the crimper I feel, I've got countless crimpers Klauke, knipex, Davico, cembre the only time a crimp usually fails is because the crimp itself is made out of crap metal thats not hard enough to make a tight lasting connection. The cheaper ones tend to have a split down the centers to alow them to be crimped easily, personally I hate these ones and always try and get the solid tubed ones. I want to try some of these they have heat shrink on them already.

Heat Shrink Waterproof butt crimp connectors x 50 BLUE [BLUEh/scrimp x 50] - £6.52 : LED Lights, Marker Truck LED Vehicle Lighting Trailers Commercial Lightbars Warning Lights Land Rover