what type solder or flux do you use?

[ron sterba]

Finding some of the wires in Dynon's Skyview 37 wire harness are not long enough to go to the fuel tank sensors. I'll have to splice in some 22 awg wire. Is there a preferred solder or solder flux combo? Diameter Size solder? I have the 25 watt iron.

Thanks Guys
Ron in Oregon.

[Mike S]

Rosin core, no additional flux.

Around 0.050---.062" diameter is good.

[DaleB]

Size doesn't matter. Or so I've heard. The .062 stuff is pretty big, though; I like to use something a little smaller diameter. The easiest to work with is probably 63/37 tin/lead rosin core. I'm using no-lead no-clean these days, but that's mainly because I ship a lot of stuff to EU countries and they care about it. If you only need a small amount and not the 1# rolls I buy, just pick up some rosin core at Rat Shack or the Lowes/Home Depot aviation aisle.

The one hard & fast rule is -- never use acid flux. Ever.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Size doesn't matter. Or so I've heard. The .062 stuff is pretty big, though; I like to use something a little smaller diameter. The easiest to work with is probably 63/37 tin/lead rosin core. I'm using no-lead no-clean these days, but that's mainly because I ship a lot of stuff to EU countries and they care about it. If you only need a small amount and not the 1# rolls I buy, just pick up some rosin core at Rat Shack or the Lowes/Home Depot aviation aisle.

The one hard & fast rule is -- never use acid flux. Ever.

Agree.
I have a 1/2 lb roll of .026", 22 ga, I've had it forever. I can't remember where I got it. It's a good size because it melts easy and I can unroll a bunch so the roll can sit on the bench. After, just roll it back up.

[rzbill]

I like the smaller stuff for fine wire work too. Rosin core eutectic (63/37). I inherited some 2% silver I use sometimes.

Since you are asking the solder question, here is a guide for how to do the mechanical part of making a nice smooth solder joint from Aeroelectric. I like it better than the double hook loop method.

Splice

One thing is not shown and that is...if you are joining several wires, don't put the joints all at the same spot. Stagger them so that your harness does not look like a snake that just swallowed a rat.

That will help make the harness a bit more robust.

Good luck!

[Michael White]

Bill,
Thanks for the link and the tip. Never heard of the "tease one strand out and wrap it around the joint" method. Will have to try that on my next model.

Ron,
After 30+ years of messing around with R/C models (and their 22-26 ga. wires), I also have found that smaller is better (well, with solder anyway). Like Wirejock, I also have a roll of 22 ga. solder that I've had for years. I got it from my Dad, who had also had it for years. At the slow rate I'm using it, I'll need a son to pass it along to...

[paul330]

The elfin-safety weenies in Europe have banned lead solder. I had an awful job trying to get the lead-free rubbish to flow properly. On a visit to the States, I got some proper stuff from Radio Shack ....

Oh, and its "Sol-der" not "Sod-der" - there's an "L" in it...........

[rightrudder]

Kester is a good brand. Soldering is pretty satisfying when you make a nice shiny joint. Also, fingers make terrible heat sinks, but sometimes you have to just suck it up, and hold the work together until that little blob of molten metal solidifies!

[az_gila]

Instead of solder, use a D-Sub crimp pin and socket combination.

Add a small section of clear heat shrink over the connected pair to provide insulation, strain relief and holding the connectors together. If you ever need to break the connection just slice the heat shrink away.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by az_gila

Instead of solder, use a D-Sub crimp pin and socket combination.
Add a small section of clear heat shrink over the connected pair to provide insulation, strain relief and holding the connectors together. If you ever need to break the connection just slice the heat shrink away.

This is by far the best solution. A good crimp is always better than solder.