I Hate Soldering!

[HPIguy]

So, all the rest of the stuff to put my Turnigy packs together finally showed up and I've started putting the TRX connectors on them. And, for the life of me, I can't get a good clean solder joint, I keep getting cold joints. This is one of the things I absolutely hate about electrics, not to mention with the lipos it can be dangerous is you make a bonehead move, which of course, I did. I had already done the + lead up and put in the TRX plug, I had the negative lead stripped and pinned back out of the way. When I finished, I was having issues getting the trx connector to "snap" into place. I was pulling on it to get it out to try again when it suddenly came out and flew out of my hands, this spun the pack on the workbench, and wouldn't you know it, both leads touched a pair of pliers. I'm luck that it didn't catch fire and burn my apt. down. Sorry for the vent, but I'm about out of patience for this. Should have just ordered up pre made packs like I've been running. The savings isn't worth the headache to me.

 

[Metalhead Matt]

About the only tips I can offer on this is clean, clean, clean the iron tip. Wire brush it after every joint. I solder with a 20 year old 40 watt webber that has to be half shot. I always have to clean the joints up with a file to get the leads into the connectors. They should go in with minimal effort. If a little force doesn't snap them into place, there's too much solder on the joint.

 

[slowngreen]

Tip has to be clean and so does the surface to work good. I couldnt solder for crap until I got a nice setup, I have a Team Checkpoint iron and I love soldering now.

 

[darkslayor24]

put a little solder on one half and a little on the other. put them together and apply heat. simple, easy.

 

[Lessen]

Yep.. clean the tip and tin both leads. "Tinning" is the act of covering your leads with solder before actually attaching them

 

[Rolex]

The connections need to be physically clean as well as chemically clean.
That means sanding them and applying flux.

 

[HPIguy]

Thanks for all the tips fellas. I didn't have the tip good and clean for one thing, and I think it was just contaminating the joint. I cleaned after doing each the + and the -, and I'm happy to report, I got one pack done nice and solid. I need a hotter iron also, these thick gauge wires and beefy connectors take too long with my little Weller. SNG I am going to have to save up for one of those team checkpoint setups, I watched the vid and it's nice, and I'm obviously hooked on the brushless setups so I'm not leaving electrics anytime soon. Soldering is definitely a practiced skill. Thanks again guys.

The connections need to be physically clean as well as chemically clean.
That means sanding them and applying flux.

Hmmmm, that makes sense, never thought to rough them up Rolex. Helps it stick the same way as paint? Just guessing.

 

[bergoff]

Hpiguy I know your pain. I also suck at soldering. But practice makes perfect. If I have free time I practice and try to get better.

 

[Rolex]

Go to a hardware store and get a tin of flux. The plumbers flux, not the paste in a tube. If you keep dipping the iron in it, the tip will stay nice and shiny.
I always dip the tip when I plug it in, and when it really starts to smoke, I dip it again and start soldering.
To help transfer the heat to the joint, have a bit of molten solder on the tip when you touch it to the part that's clean and fluxed.

 

[flm_savage]

Best flux ever is the liquid made by lennox that they sell at fastenal.

 

[frickenjoey]

I guess I am lucky that it is normally pretty easy for me. But then again I have had LOTS of practice too. It does help that I used to do a lot of wire repair on aircraft so I kinda got used to it. The key is a good tinned soldering iron solder transfers heat to solder. If the tip is not nice and shiney when heated you need to first clean it on the wet sponge. Dab a bit of solder on to the tip and roll the tip around on a clean surface that will not burn the spread out the solder. You can also do like Rolex said above and also keep that wet sponge or rag to wipe the tip after every point or two that you solder. If for a battery connector then every time. Be sure to tin both surfaces that you will be soldering. Clean both with a bit of DA if you want too then add a bit of flux to both surfaces. One at a time touch the iron to the part and touch the solder in between the wire/bar and the iron. If you have some flux on the part it should suck the solder right up and spread out. Tin up both parts as I mentioned the a tiny bit of flux on both again, put the parts together and add heat with the iron and if they melt together with out extra solder good job but if not you may want to add a bit more again by putting the solder as close to in between the parts being soldered and the iron. This is how I was taught to do it years ago and I have never had a solder job fail. Flux, a slightly steady hand and patience are the key.

 

[hamz9561]

Soldering is skill that also needs to be practiced regularly. Another tool to consider is a 3rd hand tool. It looks like this:

 

[slowngreen]

I got a 3rd hand with 3 clamps, a magnifier and a light from Harbor Freight for like $5!

 

[frickenjoey]

Oh yeah the third hand is an amazing tool I have a couple of them. One tip for the thrid hand is sometimes if you are soldering small wires like on a servo or reveiver pack the alligator clips on the third hand can cut thought the insulation. To prevent that you can take some fuel tubing and split it longways and pad the jaws to protect the wires.

 

[HPIguy]

Man am I glad I started this thread. I'm going to pick up some flux on the way home at Fastenal and follow all the tips here for doing my other pack tonight. I think the second one should be easier by default, but now it will be MUCH easier. I've also bookmarked this thread for all future soldering jobs. You guys rock!!

 

[Skwerly]

I know what you mean man. I had to solder something the other day and I made a royal mess out of it. Seems to me I used to be better. I think I should get a decent iron. I love working with electronics but soldering in tight spots has proven to be a challenge. I love this thread.

What irons are y’all using?

 

[slowngreen]

I'm using this one.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXWFJ8&P=0

I can solder with a cheap on now but I couldnt before I got a good setup, always messed it up. Once you get the hang of soldering it becomes kinda fun to do.

 

[Lessen]

I just use a cheap Hobbico 60W. I think it was like $8 or something. It gets the job done.

 

[hamz9561]

It is fun for me. I used to solder on Dean's connectors on battery packs at the lhs when I lived in the Rio Grande Valley. I'd charge a soda per connector. Great racket.

 

[Skwerly]

Dang, slowngreen, that's a nice gun...sssssspensive!