How exactly do you solder diodes?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=32434
Printed Date: May 16, 2024 at 10:03 AM

Topic: How exactly do you solder diodes?

Posted By: Cptbrainiac
Subject: How exactly do you solder diodes?
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 7:18 AM

I think I'm missing something extremely basic here.

I've seen a ton of information about what diodes are, what they're used for, how to determine ratings, how to read them in electrical drawings, how and when to reverse them, etc, etc, etc, but I haven't seen anything that talks about how exactly to solder them into your connections.

Like I said, I think this is one of those things that are so basic that no one thinks that there's actually someone out there that doesn't understand.

Does the diode get soldered in-between two wires? If so, do you wrap a wire around one end of the diode and solder? How do you protect the connection (the diode seems somewhat fragile)? Is there someplace else this is going to go?

I know this is a dumb question (otherwise someone else would have asked it), but if someone could help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it. If you have pictures of how to do this, I would be happy to wash your car for you. :)

For reference purposes, I'm installing an Audiovox APS-996a in my 2003 F150 this weekend.

Thanks in advance!!

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Bill

Replies:

Posted By: draasch
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 7:48 AM

yes they go in-line. i would slide some heat shrink on the wire first. put the diode in place. after you make your connection, slide the heat shrink over the diode and apply a little heat to finish it off. watch the heat when you solder your connections. you can damage the diode...

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Good Luck
David
Ace Security
813-376-9778
Tampa
Donate to the 12volt

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 9:41 AM

A picture is worth a thousand words, also if you are concerned about heat destroying the diode, you can use a pair of pliers as a heatsink, or even an aligator clip works well. If you trim the leads as shown in the pic there is more of a chance of destroying the diode due to heat.

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 9:47 AM

Maybe this pic will work

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 9:52 AM

Pictures not showing up??

Solder Diode

Solder Diode Finished

Here are the links, for some reason the pics I ULed didn't show up.

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 9:54 AM

What you needed to do is have the .jpg at the end of the picture. The second picture was linked like this :

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/uploads/solderdiodefinished.jpg

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 10:03 AM

It ended up being that way because it was .JPG not .jpg for some reason the caps made a difference.

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: Cptbrainiac
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 10:37 AM

Okay, so that's why no one has asked before - it really is that simple. Thank you very much for the pictures - that's always the best.

I hope I'm not posting to the wrong forum, but I have the same question regarding relays? Do I just solder directly on to the "blade" on the back of the relay? Also, should I try to hide (and loom/tape) the relays? Will the heat from soldering damage the relay?

So many basic questions....so little time (and money). posted_image

Again, thank you very much!

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Bill

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 10:53 AM

This is actually a pic of a flasher, but it shows the type of harnesses that I use with relays, it makes it really easy to remove and replace the relays. Or to disable a feature just unplug the relay. I am cheap and have time to spare, so I will just go and get them from the junkyard, relays included posted_image

Otherwise you can just use the female blade connectors and do it that way. As far as soldering them, it would be cheap, and I don't think that the heat would hurt them, but I have never done it, it would make it really hard to replace.

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 11:09 AM

On the left of the pic are insulated female blade type connectors, and on the right is one of the OEM type relay harnesses. The flasher will get a harness soon, I just have to make it to the junkyard, and the relay one still has to have some tape/loom. Hope that helps.

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 11:14 AM

I always use pre wired relay sockets here... that way if you have to replace a relay later you dont need to cut any wiring....

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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 11:28 AM

Yes, and with the sockets you don't have to remember which wires are for what and go where, because your relay will only fit in one way.

Will

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: Cptbrainiac
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 12:25 PM

Any other easily accessible place to get a harness from? Are there different models I need to be concerned with (i.e. what should I ask for)?

Again, thanks for the help - great pictures!!

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Bill

Posted By: WillTS
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 12:48 PM

No problem, I was in the mood to take a picture today posted_image

, I get them for free from the junkyard, but anywhere that you can buy the relays you should be able to get the sockets too.

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Will Just my $00.02
97 Chevy K1500 5.7L w/ Clifford Matrix RS2
BTW I am not a professional(well at procrastination maybe)
Be Gentle, I'm new to this :-)

Posted By: sroth140
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 4:00 PM

for diodes and resistors (lock wires, vats) ill do a good solder and tape then make sure i zip tie each end of the diode about two inches away on either side. i make sure its some thing sturdy, that way any stress on the wire will pull on the parts that are zipped, instead of the joints or the ends of the diode/relay. some people use crimping butt connectors too. you just dont want either to break. its an wasy guess what happened if the keyless entry in a chrysler stopped working (lost a resistor somewhere).

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MECP certified installer