Archived Soldering Question: Battery Terminals

[ProMac1K]

My truck is down right now with a bad battery terminal. I bought Marine terminals and some new lugs to crimp and solder onto the cables. But now i'm thinking I have the wrong solder. Can anyone recommend a certain solder to use, or a how to put the new lugs on the cables? Crimp then solder, or solder then crimp then solder seal? Any technical advice as to how this can be done?



Thanks,

Trever

 

[K5IP]

Trevor,

usually, terminals are crimp or solder, not both.

If you have somethin that requires both, crimp first, then solder. Do not use acid core solder (used for plumbing). Rozin core or rozin flux only. 50/50, tin/led is nominal, but 60/40 is ok.

For soldering something as heavy as a battery terminal you will need a torch. A small propane job will work. Heat the terminal with a small flame and then feed solder into the terminal/cable joint. This takes a lot of heat.

Even though this will make the best electrical connection, it is unusual to need both solder and a mechanical connection for this configuration.

Rog

 

[ProMac1K]

Thanks Roger.



Any clue what this rosin core solder would be rated at for tin/lead? Doesn't say on the spool.



I've got some 60/40 or 40/60 out in the garage. Not sure which, or what core it is.



As soon as I find some better heat shrink, I will go at it.



Thanks again,

Trever

 

[K5IP]

Trever,

I can not be sure what you have. The 60/40 or 40/60 (as you probably know) only reflect the tin/ lead ratio and do not relate to the core. I recognize the rozin core as a brown paste material, and the acid as more of a liquid substance. without the label, I doubt that I could be sure.

Sorry.

Rog

 

[ProMac1K]

Rog, sorry about that. I have the job finished as of last Monday. Used 60/40 rosin core solder as I couldn't find any 50/50. I only had to scrap one lug too because the solder wasn't flowing where it was supposed to. I had bought plenty extras so I just used a different one and probably crimped it different than the first one. All-in-all, it worked fairly decent. It wasn't as difficult as I thought the project would be, but it consumed time. I ended up with a lot of positive ends to put on the marine terminal, they barely fit but I managed to get the nut screwed down so the top of it and the stud are about even. I left the passenger side for another day when I wasn't as committed to other things and my helper wasn't at as much of a loss of sleep.



Thanks Rog!



Trever