How To: Solder Large Gauge Wire.

[JakeMN]

Definitely use flux, and if the solder doesn't flow, add more flux. It's not necessary to sand the inside of the terminal so it's bright, you're chemically cleaning it with the flux.

I'm suprised that no one mentioned solder pellets for the big closed lugs? Or tin/solder pots for tinning wires? Tinned wires aren't always the answer though. If you twist em round and tin them for insertion into your amp outputs, you ultimately give up a lot of surface/transfer area versus a flattened cable, tinned or not. If you leave your twisted up cables bare, they flatten and spread out easier.

how do you use a solder pellet? Just drop or on the flug then hear it up while jamming wire into it? Just realized my plugs are closed today when my spool of wire got here. Can you get those at menards or Home Depot ?

[prodigal_son]

JakeMN

Yes, drop the pellet into the closed barrel of the lug and heat it until it melts, then insert the cable into the molten solder.

I don't know about Menard's, we don't have those here. Home Depot is a no, but an electrical supply place may have them. The internet will help you, check Del City.

[nhoj_yelbom]

i prefer crimping with the closed end terminals i use, i can swing my 260lb butt on 4 gauge

http://www.temcoindustrialpower.com/products/Crimpers/TH0012.html

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

To me that isn't a proper crimp since there is still visible strands of wire and air gaps around said wire, a proper crimp should become one solid piece of metal.

[nhoj_yelbom]

To me that isn't a proper crimp since there is still visible strands of wire and air gaps around said wire, a proper crimp should become one solid piece of metal.

the picture i posted? a hexagonal crimp is not much tighter, and you can crimp tighter than the picture i copied off the internet.

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

But notice how that hexagonal crimp has no gaps and is one solid piece of metal?

Not saying you can't do it with those crimppers you posted but that picture wasn't the greatest of crimps but also very very far from the worst.

Edit- I hate you auto correct.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Broke_Audio_Addict

[nhoj_yelbom]

But notice how that hexagonal crimp has no gaps and is on solid piece of metal?

Not saying you can't do it with those crumpets you posted but that picture wasn't the greatest of crimps but also very very far from the worst.

for sure, i searched high and low when i did my yukon build for good crimpers. worked great on big 3 and amp ground to frame 1/0 knukonceptz.

[infinitefoamies]

Thoughts on crimp then solder? Talking Marine grade battery terminals from electerm.com.

[MrSkippyJ]

if you crimp it correctly, the solder won't really be able to penetrate into the crimp. IMO anyway.

[infinitefoamies]

I disagree as the solder is being pulled in the gaps of the strands with capillary action I think. I know that it does draw the solder in as a dis a 3/0 setup like this on my 88' F350 diesel battery to start cable setup and it took a fair amount of solder. Used a 16 ton hydraulic crimper.