Jump to content

Something New In Soldering


thebes

Recommended Posts

These items in the latest Parts Express catalogue caught my eye.  Waterproof Solder Butt Connectors in various gauges and color coded. Sold in ten packs from $8 to $10 depending on gauge.  Not particularly cheap but interesting nonetheless.

 

https://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=Heat Shrink Insulated Waterproof Solder Butt Connectors&sitesearch=true

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ditto the comment from cecaa850. Been around a long while. Used them back in the early 80s at Hughes Aircraft on Radar test equipment. Personally only have needed a water proof connection when i hacked through a direct burial sprinkler valve control wire. That's when i found out they make water proof wire nuts also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So let me get this right in my head. The two wires slide into the ends and butt up against that evidently low temperature solder in the center. Then you heat the solder and the heat shrink with the heat gun?  Seams to me like the resulting solder joint isn't going to be super reliable. 

 

    I guess I'm old school and would rather have a mechanical connection and then high temp solder... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, NOSValves said:

So let me get this right in my head. The two wires slide into the ends and butt up against that evidently low temperature solder in the center. Then you heat the solder and the heat shrink with the heat gun?  Seams to me like the resulting solder joint isn't going to be super reliable. 

 

    I guess I'm old school and would rather have a mechanical connection and then high temp solder... 

 

These look useful for outdoor wiring. 

 

Coincidentally, I am going through my house and removing all of the light switches and outlets, replacing the outlets with commercial grade, and rewiring all using the screws instead of the push terminals.  

 

The push terminals never last the test of time.  I am also putting in new light fixtures and wouldn't you know it, they have push terminals on the pigtails.  Nothing a pair of snipers, wire strippers and sum good wire nuts can't fix. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, tigerwoodKhorns said:

The push terminals never last the test of time.

Over the years I've done a bunch of wiring/re-wiring in my house that was built in '75.  There were a lot of sockets installed when the house was new using the push type connections and not a one of them has ever failed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, CECAA850 said:

Over the years I've done a bunch of wiring/re-wiring in my house that was built in '75.  There were a lot of sockets installed when the house was new using the push type connections and not a one of them has ever failed.

Yep, the tines in the socket spread and fail before the push in wire terminations in the back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/7/2019 at 2:26 PM, CECAA850 said:

Over the years I've done a bunch of wiring/re-wiring in my house that was built in '75.  There were a lot of sockets installed when the house was new using the push type connections and not a one of them has ever failed.

 

Not a complete failure, but light switches start working intermittently or not at all because the tension in the terminal loosens up.  The side screws always work well, just need to tighten them down really well.  

 

I live in an area where every home that I have owed was built in the 1990s so maybe they are getting worse compared to your 1970's switches.  Power outlets also get loose where the plug goes in.  I replace these with the medium / commercial grade plugs and they work well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, tigerwoodKhorns said:

 

Not a complete failure, but light switches start working intermittently or not at all because the tension in the terminal loosens up.  The side screws always work well, just need to tighten them down really well.  

 

I live in an area where every home that I have owed was built in the 1990s so maybe they are getting worse compared to your 1970's switches.  Power outlets also get loose where the plug goes in.  I replace these with the medium / commercial grade plugs and they work well. 

I've never seen light switches with push terminals.  The only ones I've used or seen have the side screws for wire connection. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, jason str said:

 

Old school phone lines can get you as well.

 

The ringer voltage is about 90 volts...

 

Working on 66 Blocks can bite you if a call comes in while you are checking things.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...