Soldered connections...

[Gary - K7GLD]

In another thread, I suggested the adviseability of soldering truck/trailer wiring connectors to prevent wires loosening and creating problems - thought I would add this:



Along those lines - and I shoulda mentioned it in my post, trailer brake connections and those in the trailer's 12 volt system will INVARIABLY develop corroded, high resistance joints in the crimp-on connectors commonly used - that creates poor or erratic braking - and also causes wierd operation in trailer appliances when voltage/current requirements aren't met - I also solder THOSE to head off problems, and it sure makes a BIG difference in voltage readings taken before/after they are soldered!



SOOooo - if you have a heater or refrigerator that's displaying erratic behavior - don't assume it's 12 volt supply voltage is OK just because it checks good at the BATTERY - check it under load directly at the appliance!

 

[The Vetterfarm]

I agree Solder everthing you connect to any part of trucks electrical system. I've also solderd factory connections that tend to get courroaded(spelling?)sometimes making a jumper wire around multi pin connectors. . After 30 years telephone co. experence I've never seen a good soldering gun use a 100or150 watt soldering iron. clean the wires use rosin core solder. . Chris

 

['956Wheel]

Solder & double shrink tube all connections... and fugetabotit!



Mike

 

[Matt42]

My 1989 Yukon by Fleetwood came with unsealed crimped brake connectors. I fixed that straight away. I replaced it with a 1996 Play-Mor. When I went to solder the brake connectors, I found that the factory had already done that. And more.

 

[bigkid59]

My brother in law spent 20 years in the Air Force in electronics and gave me a tip many years ago that has really works when soldering wires.

He put me onto a product called Ersin Multi Core Solder. This solder is only about . 060" diameter and actually has multiple cores of the rosin in it. With these multiple cores and the small diameter, this stuff melts very quick and wicks into a wire joint better and quicker than anything else. Just heat the joint and touch the multicore to it and you are done.

Other manufacturers are offering similar products now, but I have always used the Ersin and recommend it very much. The first time you use it you will not believe how fast and completly it wicks into the joint. The small cross section of the solder makes it flow very well with less heat than larger diameters.

I also use double layers of heat shrink over all joints.



Hope this helps!

 

[Un-Hemi]

Yes, Ersin Multicore is good stuff. I've been using it (but not exclusively) for years.



One caution, though. Don't tin any wire that you are going to put under a screw. It'll keep the strands all nice and neat, but eventually, the solder will 'creep', the tension on the screw will relax, which can cause an intermittant connection. It's the same thing that causes fires with aluminum house wiring.



There is two-ply heat shrink out there which has a core that softens and oozes all over the joint when it is heated. It's expensive, but ensures that NO moisture (or anything else, for that matter) is going to get into the joint.



Tom