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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