[time-nuts] DC distribution

[Didier Juges]

That thread won't die :)

Getting back briefly on the crimp versus solder debate, I want to give my 2
cents experience based opinion on this. I have been designing hardware used
in military platforms most of my life, save for a few years at the start
doing space hardware.

A properly crimped connection is generally preferred to a properly soldered
connection. The contact quality tends to be better (fewer materials are
involved) and it can more easily be automated, which eliminates the
variability of most human performed operation. There is no risk of residual
flux that can cause problems down the road if not properly cleaned.

HOWEVER, and this is my experience, if you do not have all the elements to
make a proper crimped connection, an adequate solder connection is usually
easier to achieve, particularly in a hobby setting. You need the right
crimping tool and the wire has to be the exact type required by the pin and
the tool. On the other hand, you only need one good soldering iron
(interchangeable tips certainly is a plus) for most types of pins and wires.

Patchwork like inserting a short piece of heavier gauge wire because the
wire is too small for the pin, or using the wrong tool will usualy give
unreliable results when crimped. Once you messed the crimp, you have to
replace the pin.

On the other hand, you can redo a solder joint as many times as you want
(make sure to suck up the old solder when you do) and soldering a wire
smaller than recommended for the pin may still yield acceptable results, at
least for anything that does not fly.

Soldering an already poorly crimped connection is not a great idea but if
the wire or pin were not seriously damaged and soldering is done properly,
I do not see much difference with a straight solder connection (hobby
setting of course).

Didier KO4BB