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Hooking up a charge line from my truck to my truck camper. I have a 2 pole plug that accepts 4-6 gauge wire and will need soldered. I'm using 6 gauge wire. Here's a pic of the "socket" the wire goes into, do I put flux on the wire and fill the "socket" with hot solder and just put the wire in?
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...psufnjzbjv.jpg
The correct way to solder would be to "tin" the wire first. Then insert it into the pin. Heat the pin by putting the tip of the iron on the barrel of the pin and then flow solder into it. For a good connection you want even heat. Filling the pin with solder then shoving the wire in is not going to give you the best result. It may work but you could have a cold solder joint.
With that said, you are going to need one hell of a iron to get that hot enough. That may be intended for a crimp.
On bigger stuff like that I've used a torch to get the solder to actually flow.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnrider
It's definitely not a crimp style connector. I'll use a small soldering torch to get the right heat. Just never end soldered a wire into a "socket".
Same as you would a copper pipe fitting.
Apply flux to the wire and the inside of the fitting.
Insert the wire into the fitting.
Heat the fitting with a propane torch.
Remove heat source.
Quickly flow the solder into the joint by touching it to the area where the wire enters the joint.
Should be a piece of cake.
Kinda what I thought but wanted to make sure.....thanks [Beer]Quote:
Originally Posted by davsel
That was the first thing that came to mind, but since I'm an amateur with electrical issues, I figured I'd let the pros speak up lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnrider
With that, I'd use a set of current tweezers on a PACE station or something similar if you have access to them.... Always tin the wires first... After tinning, a little flux (rosin core for electrical) in the cup, place wire in, then apply heat and allow solder to wick in. Try to keep the solder from running up the wire as best you can... it will get hot if holding.
USN, (squid) Work Center 590... 2M qualified (solder-bitch)
Glad you mentioned Rosin core- don't use acid core or acid flux on stranded wire- it will corrode inside the jacket just past the joint.Quote:
Originally Posted by two shoes
a small torch will provide plenty of heat, and the flux in the connector should give you a good indicator of when you've reached the correct temperature.
Well crap I thought I had some rosin core flux but all I have is the flux used for plumbing. The solder I have is 60/40 rosin core. Can I just tin the wires and use the rosin core solder or do I need the liquid flux?Quote:
Originally Posted by two shoes
The flux helps to clean the surface and allow proper flow & wetting. It may not require extra flux but I like flux and it cleans easy enough with alcohol and a cut down acid brush.The rosin core solder will tin wire pretty well, but may not be enough for the cup. If you can get the flux, do it. I'd dip the tinned wire in it, insert into the cup, then add heat. I haven't tried using a torch, only an iron or the current tweezers. The current tweezers are great for pin cups as solder will follow/ flow towards the source of heat. If you use an iron, it is likely to get a little solder on the outside of the cup. The tweezers just conduct current and the pin itself acts like a heating element. You can get a small tube at Radio Shack or any electronic component shop.
There was a surplus electronics shop in Denver, but I haven't been there in 7 years... no idea the name of the place and I did drive to get there, but it was just south, south east of down town. Cool old building with all kinds of electronic geek shit!
Cool thanks. I'll try radio shack in the morning. Gotta get this done tomorrow!!
How'd it go?
Well tried to tin the wires and that was a no go. Never done 6 gauge before....fn sucks. I gave up and moved on to the next part of the project. The wires are ran into the camper already so trying to solder them in the rain didn't work [Dunno]
What are you using to heat everything with? Propane torch man, need some heat and large size solder. Slight crimp on the connector to the wire helps too.
Thanks everyone for the advise. Got it done today. Pulled the wires out of the camper to solder in a more controlled environment (my garage)
Burned a little of the insulation off but I don't think it was a bad job for a non pro :D. And kudos to the wife for helping!
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...psuutotjsv.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps67tboldu.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...psc652mllz.jpg
The final product with the pigtail excess shoved into the camper.
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...psarzuwxbh.jpg
Aside from too much solder it looks good E man!
Good call on the shrink tube.
Remember Bert, "Bigger the Glob, better the Job."Quote:
Originally Posted by BPTactical
Thanks [Beer]Quote:
Originally Posted by BPTactical
Actually the cup filled up nicely and the solder leveled out at the top.Quote:
Originally Posted by SideShow Bob
Looks good. Not up to flight or NASA standards, but well beyond camper standards... Seriously, you did good.
I was just jerking Bert's chain, it was a very decent job given the fact that you didn't have a pro setup for soldering large gauge wire and cups. And the forethought of heat shrink will save you any potential future problems from the toasty insulation.Quote:
Originally Posted by opie011