Soldering at hackerspace tomorrow = Sat 30th?

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John Baxter

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Mar 29, 2013, 1:59:38 AM3/29/13
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I'm assuming hackerspace is happening tomorrow as per calendar.

Will there be soldering equipment for my hacking pleasure?  Is anyone able to bring some in if it's not in residence?

I've had an auto issue come up that needs a wee bit of fixing. It's a bit of a persistent issue... I think this time the solder just melted off from the heat (in the starter motor).  It's been a couple of years this time at least, but still irritating.

Tamsyn Michael

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Mar 29, 2013, 2:39:31 AM3/29/13
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Hackerspace will be open John. See you there.
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Steven Pickles

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Mar 29, 2013, 8:26:09 AM3/29/13
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Doesn't car auto electronics normally use crimps and terminal blocks rather than solder?

pix

On 29 March 2013 17:09, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hackerspace will be open John.  See you there.


On Fri 29 Mar 2013 16:29:38 CST, John Baxter wrote:
I'm assuming hackerspace is happening tomorrow as per calendar.

Will there be soldering equipment for my hacking pleasure?  Is anyone
able to bring some in if it's not in residence?

I've had an auto issue come up that needs a wee bit of fixing. It's a
bit of a persistent issue... I think this time the solder just melted
off from the heat (in the starter motor).  It's been a couple of years
this time at least, but still irritating.

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Andrew Helgeson

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Mar 29, 2013, 8:35:21 AM3/29/13
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auto electrics only use crimp connectors because it's cheap and quick to install, but not to last.
modern cars are a bitch to work on under the dash because the whole unit is pre-assembled and lowered in through the windscreen before the glass goes in.

i've done total rewires of older vehicles, I always solder the connectors after I crimp them, then paint on enamel (nail polish), then some heat shrink over that.

One of the biggest issues is using the body for earth on lights and instruments.
Not only does it promote rust, which is why pommy cars have positive earth, but it's why lighting and fuel gauge issues can be a total pig to find let alone fix.

the main issue here is cars are plain out not made to last.

Andrew


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John Baxter

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Mar 30, 2013, 9:34:45 PM3/30/13
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All the wiring is crimped - the issue is a connection between a bolt and some copper that comes off the brushes in the starter motor.  Being a motorbike, it's compact and tends to have funkier engineering solutions than cars.

It seems to have worked out okay, bike started fine this morning.  The connection is still not the most solid - doesn't stick well to the bolt.  I've since thought up four different methods to secure it better next time it fails...

John Baxter

Scott B

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Mar 31, 2013, 1:49:59 AM3/31/13
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Actually soldering is usually avoided for looms used in any environment that involves vibration - automotive, aerospace, machinery and the like. Solder will wick up the wire, turning a nice supple multi-core wire in to a stiff single core, with a stress point at the transition point. Given a bit of movement and time they will snap off where the solder stops. If you are going to solder you need to pay special attention to how you stress relieve it, and it has to be well down stream of where the solder has wicked to.

Andrew Helgeson

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Mar 31, 2013, 2:15:07 AM3/31/13
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that's why I use nail polish, then heat shrink.
then again most people don't take their vehicles swimming!

Andrew


On Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 3:19 PM, Scott B <solar....@gmail.com> wrote:
Actually soldering is usually avoided for looms used in any environment that involves vibration - automotive, aerospace, machinery and the like. Solder will wick up the wire, turning a nice supple multi-core wire in to a stiff single core, with a stress point at the transition point. Given a bit of movement and time they will snap off where the solder stops. If you are going to solder you need to pay special attention to how you stress relieve it, and it has to be well down stream of where the solder has wicked to.

John Baxter

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Mar 31, 2013, 10:17:21 PM3/31/13
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Cheers Scott!
There's still heaps of play in the copper in this instance, there's plenty of slack... and at any rate, the weak point will always be attachment to the non-copper surface.  But fingers crossed, it doesn't need another reason to fail!

Funny you should mention swimming Andrew... the time before last, the starter motor failed because it filled with water when I dropped the bike in a river.

John Baxter

On Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 4:19 PM, Scott B <solar....@gmail.com> wrote:
Actually soldering is usually avoided for looms used in any environment that involves vibration - automotive, aerospace, machinery and the like. Solder will wick up the wire, turning a nice supple multi-core wire in to a stiff single core, with a stress point at the transition point. Given a bit of movement and time they will snap off where the solder stops. If you are going to solder you need to pay special attention to how you stress relieve it, and it has to be well down stream of where the solder has wicked to.

Andrew Helgeson

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Apr 1, 2013, 12:27:12 AM4/1/13
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yep, that'll do it!

when I got my Suzuki 4wd, some goof had mounted the winch on it's side.
the drain hole on the bottom, when I took it apart there was a big chunk of verdigris where the commutator was supposed to be.

Andrew
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