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Re: solder bad for cars

To: John Dowson <jdo@star.le.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: solder bad for cars
From: "Michael D. Porter" <mporter@zianet.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 21:35:04 -0600
Cc: McGaheyRx@aol.com, miket@urgrgcc.edu, CarlSereda@aol.com, triumphs@autox.team.net
Organization: Barely enough
References: <4.1.19990720140521.00a39420@ltsun0.star.le.ac.uk>
John Dowson wrote:
> 
> OK to expand a bit on my sweeping statement which seemed
> to condemn solder joints in cars let me add the following.
> 
> Solder connections have long term reliability problems when
> they are operated in a continual vibration environment.
> The failure takes place where the solder has wicked up the
> wire underneath the insulation and at the point where the
> solder ends.

This jives with general good practice, John. However, some fittings
benefit from _properly applied_ solder, but only those fittings which
have considerable strain relief in the connector, and only if the solder
isn't wicked into a portion of the wire beyond that strain relief, or
wherever the wire is supported, as you describe above. 

Good crimping with the right tools goes a long way to ensuring good
solid joints, but in our business, we often find that soldered splices
and the like are a necessity, and some customers demand, by contract
spec, soldered joints. Nevertheless, the watchword is always to take
care not to use solder in a way which encourages breakage from
vibration. 

Cheers.

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