How to solder electrical connections
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* 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). | * 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). | ||
* Rosin flux, a pin vise, hemostats, small brass (about the size of a toothbrush) flux brush, a dental pick is also handy. | * Rosin flux, a pin vise, hemostats, small brass (about the size of a toothbrush) flux brush, a dental pick is also handy. | ||
| − | + | Generally correct. It is better to use 63/37 rosin core solder if you can find it. | |
| + | The reason being, 63/37 only has one temperature state change from liquid to solid. | ||
| + | 60/40 solder, if you observe it, has two temperature state changes, the first where | ||
| + | it it like a paste, the second being when it solidifies. The two temp change states | ||
| + | can lead to faulty solder joints. | ||
| + | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:SOLDERING EQUIPMENT 001.jpg|Selection of soldering equipment | File:SOLDERING EQUIPMENT 001.jpg|Selection of soldering equipment | ||
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* Do not use matches or a lighter for heat shrink tubing, this can melt the tubing, make it brittle, and it may not shrink to the proper size. It will slide right off the joint in some cases. | * Do not use matches or a lighter for heat shrink tubing, this can melt the tubing, make it brittle, and it may not shrink to the proper size. It will slide right off the joint in some cases. | ||
* While not advised, in a pinch shrink tubing can be applied by using your soldering iron. Start the shrinking from the ends just beyond the soldered joint. Shrinking from the ends first will make the tubing shrink to the wire size leaving the soldered joint encapsulated in a cocoon, it will prevent the tubing from slipping, then do the middle. It is not necessary to touch the tubing with the soldering iron just get it close. | * While not advised, in a pinch shrink tubing can be applied by using your soldering iron. Start the shrinking from the ends just beyond the soldered joint. Shrinking from the ends first will make the tubing shrink to the wire size leaving the soldered joint encapsulated in a cocoon, it will prevent the tubing from slipping, then do the middle. It is not necessary to touch the tubing with the soldering iron just get it close. | ||
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| + | Typically you want to use as little solder as possible, because with large quantities of solder | ||
| + | it ends up being a heat sink. | ||
| + | |||
| + | For automotive electricle work, you want a HOT iron. I'd avoid the low price less than 35 watt irons. | ||
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| + | As the original poster recommeds, if you can offord a temperature controlled iron buy it, you will be | ||
| + | glad you did and you will never regret it. | ||
==The procedure== | ==The procedure== | ||
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