[Elecraft] Soldering Powerpoles

[Don Wilhelm]

More than the heat changing the wire, but if the wire flexes it will 
eventually break at the point just beyond where the solder has wicked - 
usually about an inch from the connector.
There is great potential for flexing due to vibration in an aircraft.  
Not much flexing in a permanent installation in a ham shack.  If there 
is any concern about how much flexing will result (such as in  a mobile 
installation), the wire should be well supported for 3 or 4 inches from 
any connector.

Crimped connections are fine if they are done with a *proper* crimping 
tool and the size of the terminal is properly mated to the wire size.  
The inexpensive 'one tool fits all' crimpers just do not do a good job, 
and neither do pliers.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/14/2013 2:03 PM, Art Bross wrote:
> According to the government, nothing in aircraft can be soldered. The heat of soldering changes the characteristic of the wire and makes it brittle. This brittleness makes it more prone to break at the point it enters the connector.
>
> I have crimped thousands of connectors and Powerpoles and have relied on crimped connections over soldered connections since my work days where crimping was required.
>
> Powerpoles will hold fine if they are properly built with the proper sized wire and pins.
>
> Art
>
> KC7GF
>
>