[Elecraft] K3 Crimping vs Soldering

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I've had the same observation Knut. 

People in the power and aerospace industries tell me they now avoid soldered
connections in hidden locations because of the danger of an overheated
circuit actually melting the solder, which causes a rapid heating and
failure of connections where they can't be seen. 

I've seen a lot of BAD crimps out there. Crimping is so very easy to do
wrong even using the "right" tools. Working on large ships, I so commonly
encountered bad crimps that I kept my portable soldering iron busy simply
fixing all the sloppy ones: power leads, audio leads, antenna connectors,
you name it. I fixed a great many "intermittents" that way and won the favor
of a number of Captains who had lived for long periods of time with a radio,
radio or autopilot that seemed to have a "mind of its own" ;-)

In theory crimping is just as good as solder. Properly done, the metals are
pressed together so hard there is no air (and so no moisture) between the
surfaces. No air means no corrosion so the resistance is stable over time. 

That's the theory. Practice out here in the real world seems to be something
different. 

Ron AC7AC



-----Original Message-----

I have been told throughout my professional career that a crimped joint is
more reliable than a soldered one but I am skeptical. Maybe a perfectly
executed crimp is theoretically better but my own experience shows
otherwise. Cars, industrial installations come to mind. I have witnessed
plenty of bad crimps but frankly very few bad soldered connections.

Knut - AB2TC