Editing How to solder electrical connections

==Some things you'll need and good addition to your tool box== * A good Controlled output soldering station * De-solder / soldering tools & Braid * About a pound of 60/40 solder, (I use 24 gauge for harness making, and it works well for circuit board assembly also, a good mid~Sized gauge) * Some resin, A Pin vise, hemostats, small Brass (about the size of a toothbrush) Acid brush, a Dental pick is also handy, * Heat gun * A GOOD set of automatic strippers with a depth gauge * Various sizes and COLOR heat shrink tubing (cheaper in bulk..) * a GOOD tie Wrap gun , Various Tie wraps. * Bulk (5000 at a time) Ring terminals in the 3 popular sizes, that are NOT insulated ==The procedure== * Strip the wire to fit the terminal sleeve, with about a 1/4 in showing, * Without twisting the stripped end, Tin it until a good silver coat appears. * Then, Tin the terminal, with just enough solder to flow and leave a silver coat INSIDE the sleeve. * Next, I get two pieces of shrink tubing, Black for the first insulator, and a selected color for the top to slide over the black, about a 1/4 inch SHORTER than the bottom..cut and slide them on the wire. * Next I solder the wire to the ring terminal, "Wicking " the solder up into the terminal sleeve, until it is filled, smooth, and shiny silver. * Next I crimp the terminal * Finally, I slide the black (longer tubing) flush with the end of the terminal sleeve on the ring end, and shrink it (keeping the wire straight until it cools, unless a pre ~bent angle is required) * When cool, I slide the colored tubing (lets say, red) over the first, and flush with the ring end..and shrink it down. Net result is you have a terminal with a red marker and about a 1/4 trailer behind it.Looks totally pro...lasts FOREVER..(Never had any fail YET.. ) * To extend a wire , just strip a good length from both wires, make a good Mechanical connection by placing the stripped ends parallel to each other, wrap one clockwise and the other counterclockwise..Solder until you have a good flow and coverage and silver (not gray) appearance, then install shrink tubing. Thanks to docvette for this out standing instruction! He says: EVERY Connection I Make is soldered..My advise is if you don't know hoe to solder a proper joint, ..learn..you'll be much better off for it! Even on crimp terminals, I solder AND crimp..a ritual that has served me well for many years.

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