Date:         Wed, 1 Nov 2000 15:58:18 EST
Reply-To:     JKrevnov@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Headlight improvements ?
Comments: To: wdavidson@thegrid.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 11/1/00 1:34:10 PM, wdavidson@thegrid.net writes:

>>There was an extensive debate about this on the list a year or two ago...

>>several recommended crimping and soldering in certain situations... as I

>>remember the down side of crimp only is that they can vibrate loose and

>>corrosion can build up inside the crimp connector... the down side of solder

>>connections are that they can be a bit brittle and can break...

>>the advantages of solering should be to eliminate the possibility of the

>>crimp connection vibrating loose AND it should elimnate the corrosion inside

>>the crimp connector AND it should assure greater contact surface area and

>>thus less resistance.


I do not see why this bit of arcanum should provoke any debate.  A connector
designed to be crimped should not be soldered.  If you want to see vibration
and harsh environmental conditions, take a stroll through an operating
reactor building.  Even there, the most unenlightened electrician knows
better than to glob on some solder after he makes a crimp.  Anyway, contact
pressure is as important as contact area and heating a crimped connector may
very well change contact pressure.




> They are not designed for that type of

> application.  In many ways a crimped connection is superior to a soldered

> joint; especially if it experiences any amount of current.


>>Like I said... this was debated extensively on the list... by  those more

>>knowledgeable than I (engineers, etc.) ... search the arivhives

Why?



> Also, the solder

> wicking into the conductor may have a deleterious effect upon its strain

> relief at the connector.

>>not clear what you mean by 'strain relief at the connector' but if you mean

>>the plastic coating, that obviously is removed for soldering... there are

>>other ways to get strain relief...

I mean the relief of the strain at the connector which, according to you, is
one of the problems caused by soldering.

Rich