Electrical: solder vs crimp.

[rusty_tlc]

Rustys (trick) non4x4 tech question of the day.

This stuff is my lively hood.

What is better? Crimped or soldered connections?

[xjmoser]

soldered :D

[Sauce]

an udder vote for solder :yes:

[scottb]

i'm going to have to say electrical tape bob... :D j/k

[kairo]

solder AND shrink wrap.

[rusty_tlc]

Why?
All the OEM connectors use crimped connections for the contacts, my Cruiser has 30 year old crimped connections that work fine.

[Denis]

I would guess, it doesn't matter as long as crimped connector is very tight so no rust/oxidation forms in-between. I always just crimp or twist :eek:, and heat shrink tubing rocks! :rock:

[Connect]

You would heat shrink solders because over time they rust and fail, especially on a hardcore rig that sees alot of moisture, such as an open caged buggy.

Crimps work excellent, won't likely fail, and you won't burn yourself (or wires) to death trying to solder stuff inside your rig.

Electric tape for life! :roll: :roll:

[rusty_tlc]

Soldering uses flux, most modern flux is corrosive. On stranded wire the flux wicks up inside the insulation, heat shrink slows the oxidation process by reducing the amount of air and moisture in contact with the flux. Eventually the wire will corrode through anyway.

Soldering makes stranded wire rigid and increases flex fractures. If you solder a connection make sure has plenty of room each side to flex the stranded wire.

I belive the reason crimp connectors have a bad rep is that they are often incorrectly crimped. You must use the right crimping tool for the connector. Never use those combo crimp/stripper/bolt cutter POS things.They don't do any of those things well. Don't even think about using needle nose pliers, your better off with a wire nut. A decent set of Klien crimpers are worth the few bucks they cost, they will last a lifetime. In fact I use my Dads, so they last more than a lifetime.

Heat shrink is a good thing.

[Connect]

Did you just answer your own tech question? Yes, Yes I think you did, very accuratly....

That is unless you copied and pasted that in there :)

[rusty_tlc]

I said it was a trick question, and that I do this stuff for a living in my first post. :D
I've been involved with high rel electronics since the eighties. Traffic controlers, medical implants, space rated, military that kind of crap.

[throttleboy]

I said it was a trick question, and that I do this stuff for a living in my first post. :D
I've been involved with high rel electronics since the eighties. Traffic controlers, medical implants, space rated, military that kind of crap.
so you just twist and tape then :D !!

[Samco Fab]

Ive got these butt connectors that you crimp, then heat shrink. When you heat shrink them they also solder themselves, and the heat shrink is the kind with the glue to seal out moisture and prevent premature pullout:eek:
They seem to be the best butt connectors I have ever used.

[rusty_tlc]

so you just twist and tape then :D !!
I usually spit on it first. :D

[throttleboy]

I usually spit on it first. :D
SUN VALLEY STYLE :yes: :D !!

[rusty_tlc]

Ive got these butt connectors that you crimp, then heat shrink. When you heat shrink them they also solder themselves, and the heat shrink is the kind with the glue to seal out moisture and prevent premature pullout:eek:
They seem to be the best butt connectors I have ever used.
I've seen those before, I think the "solder" is actually a silver filled resin based product. Not that that is a bad thing. Silver filled epoxy is great stuff.
They look like good chit.