Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 23:36:13 -0600
Reply-To: Dave <dave@V-DUB.MUSA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave <dave@V-DUB.MUSA.COM>
Subject: Re: Soldered Connections
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I do not agree with your logic, a crimp connection is far more likely to
vibrate apart than a properly soldered connection. As for the issue of
corrosion you must clean any soldered joint to remove flux. Flux solvent or
isopropyl alcohol work well. Actually Isopropyl alcohol leaves its own
residue, the best solvent is Ethel Alcohol (good luck trying to buy it).
Flux is a corrosive liquid residue that left over from the solder. Most
solder has a "rosin" core that contains the flux, flux helps the solder
"stick" to the metal. To make a solder connection that would be highly
resistant to breakage or corrosion I would do in the way David recommended
with one addition, hook each of the wires to form a good mechanical
connection. If you're really worried about strength use silver solder. BTW
never use electrical tape, it doesn't seal and leaves an awful sticky mess,
always use heatshrink, if the situation is such that heat shrink is not an
option use coldshrink (the stuff that stretches and uses no adhesive).
That's how we do it on our nuclear reactor.
Dave Filcoff dave@v-dub.musa.com
Volkswagens! http://v-dub.musa.com
------------------------------------------------------
87 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Weekender (132k)
88 Fox GL 4 door (154k)
90 Associated RC10 Team Car, Aluminum
95 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 FS
------------------------------------------------------
St. Louis / Columbia, MO
LiMBO - Gateway VW Club - VWoA VW Club - Missouri Micros
>>>
Have to respectfully disagree here. A good crimp connection beats a
soldered
connection anyday. First of all a soldered connection is brittle and with
any
amount of flexing or vibration over time it will break. Also if you don't
clean up the connection after soldering it will corrode much faster than a
crimped connection. Best scenerio is use some clear plastic tubing. Cut a
piece long enough to cover your junction. Then slide it on the wire. Now
crimp your connection together. Slide the clear tube over the connection
and
then tie the ends of the tube with some thin string (or use the shrinkwrap
method). Thats how we do it on aircraft.
Ever wonder why those Vanagon power window switches go bad? The connections
are soldered and they break.
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16
<<<
|