M. Requin

M. Requin

Years ago I spoke to an Ancor rep at the Annapolis Boat Show, who persuaded me to crimp, not solder the terminals when I rewired my Alberg 37. He pointed out that the crimping process (using the proper Ancor tool, of course) generated enough pressure and therefore heat to actually "weld" the strands and terminal to each other, and that solder could lead to failures for the above mentioned reasons. I bought the tool, followed his advice and no problems.

Mike Frye

This is the first I've ever heard of this. I have been soldering connections for years for the simple reason that anything 'pressed' together didn't seem as secure as things soldered together.

I live in a high humidity, high salt content environment and you can see the effects of corrosion on bare wires in a matter of weeks. I always clean wires completely before soldering, then solder and secure the wire with some kind of stress relief so it's not just tugging on the transition from stiff solder to flexible wire, but I never really researched it at all.

This quote about a proper crimper actually heating the strands and terminal together is a completely new concept to me.

Looks like I may have to make some adjustments to my techniques. Thanks for the thread and especially for this post!

(and double thanks because I'm repowering a boat I just got and there are plenty of opportunities to try this technique...)

Ducman82

every connection on an ICBM sand in its support building are crimped.

GregBBRD

I don't know anything about building an airplane or what practices they follow...but I'd guess that airplanes are subject to vibration and since solder makes the connection stiff and sensitive to vibration, that might be why they crimp only?

danglerb

Mechanical failure in a plane or boat is tough, sometimes there is no good place to park.

blown 87

Everything you ever wanted to know about aircraft practices, and more.

http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...cumentid/99861

docmirror

You didn't reference ch11, so - you're fired.

Solder was more prevalent in older planes, it's not found much anymore. My opinion is because soldering is much more of an art than crimping. Anyone can buy and use a crimp tool with very little training. Soldering correctly is harder, and requires more clean up after. There's nothing wrong with a soldered joint, if done correctly.

928mac

GB captured my thoughts. the point at which the solder stops is the breaking point even though you can fold the wire back over the joint.
I soldered my O2 wires and the injector terminals. 1 because I wanted good continuity and 2 the terminals are held solid in the connector and because on the O2 harness, I tape that part of the shrink tube solid.
Right or wrong, a good joint depends on the prep, quality of the joint, and location. IMHO

blown 87

I have done thousands of crimped, then soldered and shrink wrapped joints in the last 40 years and have never seen one break, corrode or have the resistance increase on them.

I have seen hundreds of crimped connections pull out, turn green, or simply not have continuinty but look like it would.

The bottom line is that the right tools in the right hands will do a good job, just like the wrong tool in the wrong hands wont.

Depending on the place, I would not have any issue using a soldered joint on a aircraft I worked on, but then again I am not going to sign anything off ever again, talk about being married to a job, that is exactly what a A&P is when they sign a aircraft off.

docmirror

I have a guy like that too, he's very detailed, and very safe. He does all the work on my plane with me. We have soldered plenty too. Then, I take a case of Bud to my IA(he's an alky), and show him where to sign in the logbook.

It's a perfect world!

blown 87

Yea, some IA's have made a good living inspecting airplanes they have never seen.

Mike Simard

I beg to differ. Getting a good crimp if you only use your crimper on rare occasions can possibly be unreliable and it wouldn't be obvious.

You could make the case that a non wiring pro could have more relable connections by soldering because that's more reliable than a crimper that you haven't used in a while and hope you selected the correct one for the connectors etc.

I've had actual pro motorsports wiring guys work on my car lately and am amazed at how much of an advantage that can be. Not only knowing how to crimp but knowing what modern supplies are available is a huge benefit.

blown 87

Any neat, new wiring stuff you can tell us about?
How about some pictures of your new wiring stuff man.

I have found some neat wire sleeve's here.
http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/BraidedSleeving.php

If any one knows where to buy any kind of heat shrinkable "T"'s let me know, I am not even sure they are made.

docmirror

That's ok, you're differing with a NASA qualified solder tech. Although it's been a few decades....

A solder is a thermo-chemical bond, crimp is mechanical. If you can't see which is more dependent on skill - meh, no prob.

If you give 100 amateur DIY guys decent soldering and crimping tools, I'm betting that 70% will make a decent crimp connection and 75% will make a poor solder connection. That was the ratio I recall from training, and I don't think it's changed in the past 35 years.