Monday, August 24, 2015

Meld Wire Together

You can solder to rejoin cut wires.


If you want to meld wire together to create a lasting electrical connection, you should learn to solder. You can solder wires to fix electrical problems, attach different wire sizes and to splice wires together. Start learning to solder by joining two wires before you move on to splicing. You can practice on scrap wire until you get comfortable with the process. The goal is to create not only a strong mechanical connection, but also a flawless electrical current.


Instructions


1. Remove the insulation around your two wires. Hold your wire strippers about a 1/4 inch from the end of the wire. Squeeze the strippers and pull towards the end. You may need to repeat a couple of times to remove all the insulation.


2. Twist the ends of the wire together. Overlap the two ends and twist with needle-nose pliers. This will create a lasting electrical connection. Place the wires between two clamps to suspend them in the air so you can solder without touching the wires.


3. Clean the soldering iron tip by wiping it with a damp sponge. Thoroughly dry the tip with a clean towel. Heat the soldering iron.


4. Place the hot soldering iron tip against the wires for a few seconds. When the wire is heated up, place the solder around the wire. If the solder does not instantly melt, wait a couple of seconds for the wire to get hotter. Applying solder to wires that are not hot enough will create a cold shoulder joint that is easily broken. When the wire is at a hot temperature, the wire will pull the molten solder into its individual strands.


5. Add enough solder to completely encase the two twisted wires in metal. Do not apply more solder then is needed to cover the wires or the solder mat flow under the wire's insulation. Avoid touching the solder to the tip of the soldering iron.


6. Allow the wire to cool and remove the clamps. Insulate the wires with electrical tape by wrapping a piece over the soldered area.

Tags: soldering iron, create lasting, create lasting electrical, electrical connection, lasting electrical, lasting electrical connection