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12-25-2017, 05:26 PM | #16 |
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Location: Canada
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I am making a mess of my soldering job on these horn wires, I'm making a harness from battery to a relay and I'm using 12 gauge wire and I'm trying to solder a 12-10 AWG ring terminal and butt joints using my old 30-35 watt solder gun and I'm doing a hatchet job of it, what am I doing wrong?
Edit: the solder is not melting or flowing very well, am I not using enough heat? need a new solder gun?
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Last edited by degreaser; 12-25-2017 at 05:29 PM.
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12-25-2017, 06:31 PM | #17 |
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NE Indiana
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If your solder isn't flux core and for wire, it's not going to flow properly. Plumbing solder doesn't work as well (usually higher melt point) because of type of metal in it. Clean copper and flux is essential for good solder joints. For what your doing I would think you heat would be okay.
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12-26-2017, 12:42 PM | #18 |
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Make sure your solder tip has old solder cleaned off of it each time before you use.
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12-26-2017, 04:12 PM | #19 |
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i hand sanded the solder iron tip, tinned it and I still cannot get the 12 gauge wires hot enough to melt the rosin core onto it, even used flux on the wires, I've tried putting solder iron tip on the bottom and on top of the wires, still not melting the solder, it's not getting the copper wire hot enough, I think my old iron needs replacing, maybe i need to go to a higher wattage iron, or maybe my old 30/35 watt iron internals are corroded
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12-26-2017, 04:35 PM | #20 |
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How big around is your solder? I use solder about as big around as a small paper clip. The kind I use is KESTER "44" Rosin Core Solder. Look for it at Radio Shak or almost anyplace even an auto parts store. The brand does not matter Just make sure it is Rosin Core and small diameter. 30/35 watt iron is good. You are not out in the wind or cold are you? if you are that would be a problem.
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12-26-2017, 08:07 PM | #21 |
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not outside, inside and using small diameter paper clip thin solder, I am going to look for a new soldering iorn or gun, looking at the weller 8200 PKS 120V 100/140 watt kit, I am pretty sure my old 30w soldering iron is toast or not enough watts
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12-26-2017, 08:22 PM | #22 |
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Sounds like a new soldering gun should do the trick. seems like you are doing every thing right.
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12-27-2017, 09:59 AM | #23 |
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bought a new weller 8200PKCP universal sldr gun kit 140/100 watt, and have an old container of plumbing flux I used back 20 yrs ago but not sure if it's the acid flux type or not, so assuming it is the acid type I can wipe off the flux residue when it cools to prevent wire corrosion, google says I can wash the site with alcohol after, but not sure what damage acid plumbing flux can have on electronics except maybe eat the wires and/or joints and cause a future short
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12-27-2017, 10:14 AM | #24 |
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after wiping off excess flux, 70% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol at the drug store can be used to wash off the acid type plumbing flux residue, assuming my flux on hand is the plumbing flux
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12-27-2017, 05:59 PM | #25 |
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new 100w solder gun works just great, solder joints look good, used old flux and 60/40 rosin core solder, so my old iron was the problem all along, I got the wires from relay to the 2 horns done and soldered, tested both horns and all is good, next to run a new 14 gauge wire from relay to a in-line 15 amps fuse then to battery
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12-27-2017, 06:18 PM | #26 |
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You didn't need to use the old flux. Rosin core solder has the flux in it, that's what the rosin core is.
But glad to see you are making progress. That new solder gun looks a lot like mine, which is probably 40 years old. I have that and a dremel tool I got when I was around 14, and they both still work great.
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01-15-2018, 04:09 PM | #27 |
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I split the compressor off of the horns and mounted the horns under the tank up front.
The compressor is mounted on the cross bar under the tank.
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