2 ms·
soldering is a terrible idea for cables that need to flex, which is why you’ll typically only find them used in applications with major strain relief, or inside
by jmole 4y ago
soldering is a terrible idea for cables that need to flex, which is why you’ll typically only find them used in applications with major strain relief, or inside non-user-serviceable enclosures (e.g. inside an ATX PSU)
- snovv_crash 4y agoYou need strain relief either way, soldering or crimping. A well soldered joint will have lower resistance than a crimped one and be more resistant to vibrations.
- jmole 4y agoIn most applications crimping offers better vibration resistance and better conductance. Most solder is on the order of 10x as resistive as pure copper, or more. Welding can be better than solder or crimp, but it's uncommon except for applications like wire-bonding and battery cell termination. In general, any application where you have a fixed end on one side and a free end on another (wire to board, wire to panel, wire to X), a crimp termination is by far the better choice.
- snovv_crash 4y agoThe actual amount of contact area in a soldered joint is much higher though. The crimped joint will have the tangent of each strand on the connector, for lots of tiny little contact points. Soldering, you can take the same contact points but also add the higher resistance solder for all of the area in between, dramatically increasing the cross sectional area of the contact.