Gold Terminals --Solder?

[jdh]

Hello Everyone,

I found a set of gold-plated terminals whose dimensions fit my needs perfectly.

Q:

Rather than "just" screwing the internal wires to the terminals, could/should I solder the copper wiring to the gold? (I have the 60% lead, 40% tin solder.)

Thanking you all in advance.

JDH

 

[majorloser]

It won't hurt anything. It will help prevent the common problems of terminals loosening or wire corrosion. As long as the terminal is properly fluxed (that just sounds funny) the wire should hold fine with solder.

 

[j_garcia]

I've found that soldering doesn't buy you a whole lot with wire to connectors unless you are looking for strength. With some crimp on terminals, I found that if the crimp wasn't perfect, the wire could slip out. A small flash with solder would usually give enough added strength to maintain the connection. I generally use silver solder also - 96/4, which comes in both fluxed and fluxless versions, because it has a higher melting point and is a bit stronger (if you're looking for strength).

 

[mtrycrafts]

As long as the terminal is properly fluxed (that just sounds funny) .

In what way?

 

[howie85]

my first speaker cables were all solder and heatshrink, my last set were temp and they used wire nuts and crimps. I could tell no difference in sound at all. I would concur the only reason for solder is a stronger connection in this application

 

[jdh]

Hello, Everyone,

I appreciate your help!!

BTW:

Finding solder with a high lead % in the retail stores in my area (NYMetro) is impossible, leaving me with only one option: hording solder through mail-order.

The unfounded, caveman-level fear of lead is threatening national security.

The Navy is no longer allowed to use lead solder. Since the ban there have been many documented cases of multi-billion dollar missile systems not being able to lauch during exercises because of the lead-free solder being used. (The crap they're forced to use isn't "just" foreign to the equipment already onboard -- it has a hard time in ocean conditions.)

Regards,

JDH

 

[mtrycrafts]

Finding solder with a high lead % in the retail stores in my area (NYMetro) is impossible, leaving me with only one option: hording solder through mail-order.
JDH

Who said you need high lead content? Silver solder, no lead, all ok.

 

[malvado78]

The Navy is no longer allowed to use lead solder. Since the ban there have been many documented cases of multi-billion dollar missile systems not being able to lauch during exercises because of the lead-free solder being used. (The crap they're forced to use isn't "just" foreign to the equipment already onboard -- it has a hard time in ocean conditions.)

Actually the problems with lead free solder is notdue to environmental conditions. The problem is called "Tin Whiskers." It is where the Tin in the solder forms minute strands which can eventually create a short. One example of it not being due to environmental conditions is there was a computer lab somewhere (Sorry I would have to dig up th earticle for specifics. Read it last year sometime.) that fell prey to this issue. That would be a Ground Benign environment, on of the most electronic friendly environments.

I don't belive this should be a problem with have soldering items as most of us would do because the distances would be too far for the "whiskers" to bridge. We are talking about circuit boards that are routed very tightly and spacing is very small.

Just FYI.

Brad

 

[mtrycrafts]

Actually the problems with lead free solder is notdue to environmental conditions. The problem is called "Tin Whiskers." It is where the Tin in the solder forms minute strands which can eventually create a short. One example of it not being due to environmental conditions is there was a computer lab somewhere (Sorry I would have to dig up th earticle for specifics. Read it last year sometime.) that fell prey to this issue. That would be a Ground Benign environment, on of the most electronic friendly environments.

I don't belive this should be a problem with have soldering items as most of us would do because the distances would be too far for the "whiskers" to bridge. We are talking about circuit boards that are routed very tightly and spacing is very small.

Just FYI.

Brad

Yes, that may be one side benefit of removing, but in plumbing use it was leaching into the water, etc, and in soldering, it is in the fumes. I think it accumulates in the body, not washed out. That is beyond my level

 

[majorloser]

Yes, that may be one side benefit of removing, but in plumbing use it was leaching into the water, etc, and in soldering, it is in the fumes. I think it accumulates in the body, not washed out. That is beyond my level

Lead solder was removed from plumbing because water under certain conditions can leach the lead into the water with extended contact time (several hours). This is one of the reasons to let the water run for a few minutes before you drink it to flush the pipes out. If you have a home that was constructed in the 70's with copper pipes it effect you. Older homes are not a problem since whatever lead could have leached out already has. Newer homes don't have the problem since lead was removed from the industry.

For the eletronics industry the lead was absorbed into the skin of workers or breathed in from the fumes.

Lead accumulates in the bloodstream. High levels of lead can damage the kidneys, blood, and nervous system. At very high levels, lead poisoning can cause mental retardation, coma, convulsions, or death.

 

[jdh]

From what I hear naval technicians aren't thrilled with silver solder either.

Even though the equipment on board most ships is in climate controlled areas and insualted so that it can withstand the elements, there have been problems soldering problems that never arose when lead was the primary mental in the solder.

JDH

 

[j_garcia]

As opposed to cancer?