Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => EZ Board postings => Topic started by: Geezer on June 27, 2005, 07:00:52 pm
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LooseChange
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 185
(1/4/04 7:53 am)
Soldering - wire and components end to end
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How do you solder a wire and a component lead end to end?
I always feel this is the weakest link in the amp.
For example: Take the 68K resistor on the input jack and solder it to the tiny wire on the shielded cable.
ElectricRipple
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 34
(1/4/04 8:58 am)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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I just twist them together using longish leads... -and solder well and put on some heat shrink... I guess as long as a good mechanical connection is there and it's soldered well; It's as good as any other connection in the amp. Just my take on it.
Anyone have any other methods?
Edited by: ElectricRipple at: 1/4/04 8:59 am
geoffreyreed
I will work on all amps
Posts: 309
(1/19/04 8:37 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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If you a doing stranded shielded wire twist the strands first, then start twisting the wire to the component near the component body so that the wire exits away from the component, Western Union splice style. I always do that rather than the pigtail thing. Looks neater too. Geoff
LooseChange
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 189
(1/19/04 10:00 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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I know this might sound dumb... but, you got a picture of that??
Tiny Daddy
I will work on all amps
Posts: 434
(1/20/04 8:08 am)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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There's a picture of Western Union splice here:
www.tpub.com/content/cons...27_122.htm
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There's a picture of Western Union splice here:
www.tpub.com/content/cons...27_122.htm
LooseChange
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 190
(1/20/04 5:36 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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Okay. I get it. That is basically what I do. The only problem I usually have is getting the 2 wires to twist nicely together.
Thanks!
Bradster
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 1
(3/1/04 9:17 am)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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Never realized it was officially called a "Western Union" splice, we always refered to it as a "Linemans Splice" in low voltage wiring.
(non HV)
bluetonene
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 29
(3/1/04 10:33 am)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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I use hemostats to either hold the wires together or twist them. You can pick them up cheap at a flea market or tool catalogue. They are also great for many other things. Like picking or small items from your storage bins!
Lucid Alice
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 170
(3/1/04 8:31 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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As already mentioned, the trick is getting a soft material, like a stranded wire, and a stiff material, like a component lead, to twist in a uniform spiiral like the diagram shows. Sometimes I get it to work perfectly, and sometimes... Well, you know!
I wish I had advice on a tried and true method to get it to work perfectly every time. But it seems to be more of a result of focus and concentration...
PHATamps
I only work on tube amps
Posts: 418
(3/2/04 9:48 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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What I do is strip the wire to about 5/16" and tin it. Then I cut the resistor (or whatever) lead down to about the same length and make a hook with looping pliers on the end of both, just big enough for each hook to fit inside the other.
I slide a piece of heat shrink down the wire, join the hooks and squeeze them together with pliers, then solder, de-flux, and shrink. Makes a good strong connection without reversing direction like the WU splice (for a neater appearance).
It's a good idea to use a heat sink on the component lead so as not to overheat it.
LooseChange
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 213
(3/2/04 10:33 pm)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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I have done both methods now. Twisting like most above and the looping that PHATamps suggests. My biggest concern is the integrity of the joint. How many times has the lead broken off right at the component? I hate when that happens! If it is possible, I now install a terminal strip to make these attachments. I'll break one up to get just one terminal if I need to. (on the other hand I do love heat shrink tubing)
Voxbox
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 63
(3/3/04 6:33 am)
Re: Soldering - wire and components end to end
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With stranded wire, rather than tinning the full length of it, you could try just tinning the end of it after tightly twisting the strands together. Its more flexible this way and the ends dont splay out.
Cheers
Vox
James Louie Lewis
Posts: 3
(3/4/04 9:42 am)
soldering-wire components end to end
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I agree with PHATamps method plus use some sort of external flux. I always get told by people that don't believe in flux that the solder has the flux in it already.
Well, I do alot of Microscope soldering and external flu
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I agree with PHATamps method plus use some sort of external flux. I always get told by people that don't believe in flux that the solder has the flux in it already.
Well, I do alot of Microscope soldering and external flux
makes a big difference, and some alcohol and a swab will
clean up most of the residue.
PHATamps
I only work on tube amps
Posts: 423
(3/8/04 3:54 pm)
Re: soldering-wire components end to end
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Yeah, I always use extra flux on every joint and clean up afterward. Just a dab will do ya. Insurance against those dreaded cold solder joints.