S is for Solder vs Crimp

S is for Solder vs Crimp

In the amateur radio world there is a great debate over which is better to solder or to crimp, this goes into coaxial cable as well.  For the old timers they like the strength of solder in that there is a fused connection between the two pieces of wire or the connector.  This connection will provide the electrical continuity that is being looked for.  The downside to these connections is that with the hard connection that repetitive motion of the wire at the joint could also make the joint break at that location over time.  Another weakness of solder is that if there is enough heat either due to resistance (too much current) it will melt the solder and you will lose the connection.

The alternative to soldering is crimping.  Crimping provides a connection that relies on friction to keep it together.  Crimping is really easy and quick, also it is a lot more portable than trying to take a soldering iron to wherever you want to make a connection.  For example I was on the roof last fall installing an antenna and I needed to put an end on it.  It would have been very awkward to pull up the extension cord and my soldering iron up there and waited for it to heat up and shield it from the wind as it is only a cheap 30W iron and hope that it would have worked.  Instead I pulled out my crimpers and made the connection in less than a minute.  People are afraid that if you got water in the connection it would cause it to corrode and not be as electrically sound or that it will pull out no longer being connected.  To alleviate the corrosion issue you can put some dielectric grease which is used in car spark plug wires to make sure it makes the connection.  By covering the joint in grease it will keep the water out of there.  The best way that I have found to make sure that you get a good connection is to have a set of purpose built crimpers, not the all in ones from Radio Shack.  I have found some pairs for a really good price and then make sure that the crimp is on all sides and that there is not a place for the wire to wiggle out of. 

From my experience at work in both high and low voltage there is no soldering, neither in automotive, I am also told that it is forbidden in the aviation world.  NASA will use solder in their lineman’s splice which because of the single use nature of a mission build there is not a lot of repetitive strain loading on the wires for it to fatigue.  Now back when the linesman would use that splice on telegraph wire they did not use solder.  The only place I have come across solder is in electronics, which is too small for crimping.

Anyways, there is some background on the age old debate.  Share with the group whether you prefer to crimp or solder. 

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