Does anyone REALLY solder splices anymore
- Thread starter JohnConnolly
- Start date
- Status
'Modern' Soldering
'Modern' Soldering
I've seen Audio/Visual installers solder their final connections to those large military style cannon plugs on the back of consoles.
Took days, and this crew had just one guy who soldered all the final terms. BTW, this was the same shop that did Bill Gates's house.
Obviously, soldering is very labor intensive, but it was the only way for them because their gear had connectors with 'solder cups' on the back of the pins.
As for the old residential wiring, I love trying to add-on or delete wires on a remodel, because not only are the wires only 2 inches long and soldered, all that splicing was done in one of the ceiling boxes and the old mushroom light with 150W bulbs in it cooked all the old insulation to a crisp.
'Modern' Soldering
I've seen Audio/Visual installers solder their final connections to those large military style cannon plugs on the back of consoles.
Took days, and this crew had just one guy who soldered all the final terms. BTW, this was the same shop that did Bill Gates's house.
Obviously, soldering is very labor intensive, but it was the only way for them because their gear had connectors with 'solder cups' on the back of the pins.
As for the old residential wiring, I love trying to add-on or delete wires on a remodel, because not only are the wires only 2 inches long and soldered, all that splicing was done in one of the ceiling boxes and the old mushroom light with 150W bulbs in it cooked all the old insulation to a crisp.
Read 110.14(b):
"Soldered splices shall first be spliced or joined so as to be mechanically and electrically secure without solder and then be soldered."
So if the solder can't really be used as a conductor, nor as a method to make the connection more secure, why even apply any solder? If the joint you make is mechanically (not going to come apart) and electrically (conducts current flow without excess resistance), the solder has no function.
I know of several ECs in my area that require their guys to S&T. In addition to testing the quality of S&T compared to wire nuts, I'd like to see speed trials as well. I used to work with a guy who S&T'd, and by the time he had a box made up and ready to solder, I had my wire nuts installed and was pushing everything into the box.
He, on the other hand, still had to come back with his torch and solder, heat the wires up, apply the solder, (being careful not to melt the insulation, burn a hole in the box, scorch the stud or catch his clothing on fire!).
Then, after that complete trip around the entire house, come back for another trip around the house and wrap everything up with tape before he could put it all back into the boxes.
By the time he's got all this done, I'm down at O'Mallys' quaffin' beers, watchin' the game and sinkin' bank shots.
"Soldered splices shall first be spliced or joined so as to be mechanically and electrically secure without solder and then be soldered."
So if the solder can't really be used as a conductor, nor as a method to make the connection more secure, why even apply any solder? If the joint you make is mechanically (not going to come apart) and electrically (conducts current flow without excess resistance), the solder has no function.
I know of several ECs in my area that require their guys to S&T. In addition to testing the quality of S&T compared to wire nuts, I'd like to see speed trials as well. I used to work with a guy who S&T'd, and by the time he had a box made up and ready to solder, I had my wire nuts installed and was pushing everything into the box.
He, on the other hand, still had to come back with his torch and solder, heat the wires up, apply the solder, (being careful not to melt the insulation, burn a hole in the box, scorch the stud or catch his clothing on fire!).
Then, after that complete trip around the entire house, come back for another trip around the house and wrap everything up with tape before he could put it all back into the boxes.
By the time he's got all this done, I'm down at O'Mallys' quaffin' beers, watchin' the game and sinkin' bank shots.
- Status