Table of Contents
- 1 Why should you use a crimped terminal instead of a soldered terminal?
- 2 Can crimp connectors be soldered?
- 3 Should you tin wires before crimping?
- 4 What is the proper method of preparing and making a wire to terminal connection?
- 5 Should you solder crimp lugs?
- 6 Does solder affect resistance?
- 7 Why do electrical terminals have Crimp and internal solder?
- 8 What are the requirements for sleeving on a terminal conductor?
- 9 What is the minimum insulation gap for a soldering wire?
Why should you use a crimped terminal instead of a soldered terminal?
Crimping offers stronger, more reliable connections than soldering. Soldering uses heated metal to join the cable to the connector. Over time, this filler metal will degrade, which may cause the connection to fail. Most electricians will agree that crimping is also easier than soldering.
Can crimp connectors be soldered?
Soldered connections offer superior conductivity but are more likely to work-harden and break. With either connection, it’s a good idea to have a weatherproof cover over the connection to keep out moisture and prevent corrosion. Once the connector is crimped, we solder it and then slide the heat shrink in place.
Is it OK to solder electrical wires?
The reason is that solder is a very good electrical connection, but a very weak mechanical one. Copper (or aluminum) alone can bend, flex, and even stretch a bit without any damage, so it’s suitable for things that move around a bit. Solder is very brittle and will crack and break if you try to flex it.
Should you tin wires before crimping?
On many industrial installations the wires will be pin-crimped before insertion. This reduces the risk of stray strands left out of the terminals. Some crimpers result in a square cross-section on the crimp and these work well with the flats grips on the terminals. You should absolutely NOT tin the wires.
What is the proper method of preparing and making a wire to terminal connection?
Instructions
- Strip the Insulation. Use a pair of wire strippers or a combination tool to strip about 3/4 inch of wire insulation from each conductor to be connected.
- Prepare the Wires.
- Connect the Wires.
- Tighten the Connection.
What are the disadvantages of soldering?
Disadvantages of soldering
- Careful removal of the flux residuals is required in order to prevent corrosion;
- Large sections cannot be joined;
- Fluxes may contain toxic components;
- Soldering joints can not be used in high temperature applications;
- Low strength of joints.
Should you solder crimp lugs?
Good crimp contacts are designed to be reliable without needing solder.
Does solder affect resistance?
Tin (the main component of most solder) has about 5 times the resistance of copper. As such, when used in high current applications (think a battery lead), that resistance can lead to heat. The resistance creates heat at the joint, which melts the solder, which increases the resistance until it fails altogether.
Can you solder 120v connections?
Soldering isn’t allowed because with a solid core conductor in particular,they must have a strong mechanical connection, solder is really only there to provide electrical conductivity,so a form of screw terminal must be used.
Why do electrical terminals have Crimp and internal solder?
The extra high reliability terminals for aviation and aerospace use may have a crimp and internal solder so they can be reflowed with a hot gun after crimping to flow the solder and shrink the strain relief/insulation boot to seal the wire end from moisture and gas while making better electrical contact after an already sound mechanical connection.
What are the requirements for sleeving on a terminal conductor?
The sleeving shall not be pierced, split, charred or otherwise damaged, and shall completely cover the terminal and overlap the wire insulation. The sleeving shall fit snugly around the terminal and the wire insulation. NASA-STD-8739.3 [9.8] GENERAL REQUIREMENTS TERMINAL FILL Conductors shall be in full contact with the terminal and each other.
Why is soldering not the best way to connect wires?
Second reason soldering isn’t the best is that the heat used to create the connection weakens the wire. In automotive applications where there are many 16 or 18 gauge wires, it is extremely easy to overheat when soldering.
What is the minimum insulation gap for a soldering wire?
The insulation gap (referenced from the first point of contact of the conductor to the terminal) shall be less than two (2) wire diameters, but shall not be imbedded in the solder joint. The wire contour shall be visible at the end of the insulation.