4 ms·

Soldered connections are a no go in automotive. Crimped is way tougher for vibrations. Corrosion shouldn't be getting in with heat shrink or a good connector.

• WalterBright 3y ago
  I wrote crimp and solder. Not solder. Take a look at these: https://www.amazon.com/Qibaok-Connectors-Insulated-Electrical-Terminals/dp/B0869FSG86 https://www.amazon.com/Qibaok-Connectors-Insulated-Electrica... Crimp a wire in it. Look at it from the connector side. You'll see the bare conductor inside the connector. That's where the moisture gets in. Heat shrink tubing won't shrink enough to cover that. Wicking solder into it will seal it against moisture and corrosion.
  • cactacea 3y ago
    Yup, and those are garbage - for the reasons you've identified. Marine grade or bust. Look I'm no fan of crimps but you're giving terrible advice here.
    • WalterBright 3y ago
      > you're giving terrible advice here Never had trouble with the completed soldered/crimped connections for decades. I use them in my car. With crimp-only, it's only a matter of time till I get erratic connects. It's particularly irritating with the stereo, as the speakers go in and out or suffer the crackling with a loose connection.
  • pxx 3y ago
    A crimped and soldered connection is weaker than a properly-crimped cold-welded connection. Solder will fill any voids in your contact, causing the bond to break as your entire assembly heats and cools. Solder will also wick up the strands, making the resultant wire brittle. Moisture ingress can be solved with the correct wrapping. After all, the extruded PVC insulation on the wire in the first place shrunk to fit it, right?
    • WalterBright 3y ago
      The brittleness doesn't matter if the wire is supported to where the solder ends. I don't let it wick up much - I introduce the solder at the cut end, just enough to solder the joint. I have electronic equipment in nearly continuous use for 40 years. Daily heat/cool cycling. No solder breaks in it. It seems that this debate is an old one: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-pros-cons-soldering-vs-crimping-wires https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-pros-cons-soldering-v... https://blog.peigenesis.com/soldering-vs-crimping-advantages-disadvantages https://blog.peigenesis.com/soldering-vs-crimping-advantages... https://www.sig4cai.com/soldering-or-crimping-which-is-better-for-your-electrical-needs/ https://www.sig4cai.com/soldering-or-crimping-which-is-bette... P.S. I'm pretty good with soldering, since I've done it professionally, so the disadvantages of a poorly soldered joint don't apply.
  • winrid 3y ago
    Yeah I see your issue. You're not using the right connectors. https://www.amazon.com/JRready-Connector-Waterproof-Electrical-Automotive/dp/B099PMB52Y/ https://www.amazon.com/JRready-Connector-Waterproof-Electric... The cheaper knock offs can work well, too.
    • WalterBright 3y ago
      I haven't seen those before, they look interesting. Thanks for the pointer! My crimped and soldered ones work fine, though, and cost basically nothing.
      • winrid 3y ago
        They might. They're just more work to get the same seal IMO. Also newer cars have dozens of wires in one loom :)