soldering heavy gauge power cable?

I was curious if somebody could share their techniques on soldering heavy-gauge power cable. I've crimped a ring terminal on my 4 gauge power wire, but I would like to solder it too for a more effective connection. A few questions:

- Is rosin-core solder still the way to go, or will i be better off with a solid-core and flux? IF not rosin-core, the type of flux and solder would help.

- will a propane torch do the job, or is there a better means of doing this?


any help would be greatly appreciated.



regards,

_D

I use rosin core to solder all of my electrical connections. Acid core is for pipes. I had used a propane torch but have switched to Mapp gas as it seems to burn hotter. I crimp the terminal end onto the wire and then heat up the ring terminal farthest away from the wires insulation and apply solder into the joint. Sometimes I get a small fire from the resin burning and it's easily blown out. I use a self igniting torch head from Sears and it works out real good. The propane and mapp gas cylinders interchange with this same torch head.

Jim

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1973 Nova Custom
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Use a large soldering gun, not a soldering iron.  A torch is overkill and hard to control and often leads to fried insulation.  Rosin-core will work fine.

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large guage wire is very hard to solder. getting solder to the center takes a lot of heat. youre better off crimping.

or you could do like i used to do on doube 0 wires (i had to make my own connectors) but anyways put the connector in a vice heat it up with a torch and melt solder on the inside of the connector (you need a closed end obvisally). but anyways fill the connector up half way take the torch off and shove the wire in to the connector and hold it till it hardens

all good tips. thanks all. i'll give a few of these methods a try.

93cavdemon wrote:

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or you could do like i used to do on doube 0 wires (i had to make my own connectors) but anyways put the connector in a vice heat it up with a torch and melt solder on the inside of the connector (you need a closed end obvisally). but anyways fill the connector up half way take the torch off and shove the wire in to the connector and hold it till it hardens

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Wouldn't that kinda make a cold solder joint?? and aren't cold joints bad and have higher resistance??

Just checking...cuz I've had trouble and was about to go out and buy a lil torch lol

Yes, most likely you'll get a cold solder joint. The wire will act as a heat sink and cool the solder rapidly. Also, solder itself is not a great conductor. Ideally you want to crimp first, then, if desired, solder. I too use a torch. I have a small, self lighting butane torch for most jobs. I also have a propane torch, but it doesn't see much use.

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