Soldering

[mcrites]

I have been soldering together a fanbus this weekend and I have a question. Whats the best way to solder wires together? I know I did a bad job, and hope the thing works :eek:

[Über~PhLuBB]

Strip each wire between 1/4 and 1/2" (Whatever you're comfortable with). Put the wires side by side, then twist them together (Don't twist each one first).

Heat up the wires with the soldering iron, then touch the solder to the wires. If you melt solder onto the iron, then try to solder by touching that to the wires, the solder won't sink it well.

If you do a good job, as soon as the solder melts when coming into contact with the wire, it will seep, or flow, into the cracks between the wires.

[Veland]

the above method is wery good for thin wires, but thicker wires often get messy using that method. For those joints, I make a little "u" on the and, hook them together and twist them.

I know, probably hard to understand just by reading. Just do it whatever way works for you. And have a powerful enough soldering iron to get good solder flow, and don't forget to put shrink wrap or similar on the joint.

Happy soldering!

[Crazy Jayhawk]

Originally posted by PhLuBB
Strip each wire between 1/4 and 1/2" (Whatever you're comfortable with). Put the wires side by side, then twist them together (Don't twist each one first).

Heat up the wires with the soldering iron, then touch the solder to the wires. If you melt solder onto the iron, then try to solder by touching that to the wires, the solder won't sink it well.

If you do a good job, as soon as the solder melts when coming into contact with the wire, it will seep, or flow, into the cracks between the wires.I use the same method with one more step: Put an appropriately sized piece of heat shrink tubing on one of the wires and slide it back as far as you can. That way the heat from soldering won't affect it as much. Once you've soldered, slide the tubing over the join and apply heat. I just use the side of the soldering iron tip, which is why it's dark gray except at the end. :p

[Über~PhLuBB]

Shrinkwrap is best, but if you forget to put a tube of heatshrink over the wire before you solder (You would then scoot the tube over the joint then heat it), you'd have to use Electrical tape. Don't get cheap tape, and don't use old tape that's been sitting around. It tends not to stick.

[mcrites]

Thanks for all of your suggestions.