soldering 8 gauge zippy difficulty

[iridebikes247]

Hey guys just picked up two zippy 5000 mah 5s packs thing is its really difficult for me to get the wires tinned and my 6mm bullet connectors seem kinda small but i have a lot of them so i want to use them if i can. Any suggestions with these packs? Thanks.

[JimClark]

what you using for heat and solder?

[iridebikes247]

Im using 60/40 rosin core with a very old 85w heat gun. These wires are ridiculous lol.

[fleckster48]

I hear you. I tried a number of guns from HomeDepot and Radioshack and finally ended up spending 80 bucks for a Hakko Soldering Station. You can google them and there are youtube videos showing them. Best investment I made...also a good quality rosen core solder and a small tin of soldering paste. Also, be sure and keep the tip clean and tinned and you can't miss.

[Fluid]

I solder 8 gauge wire all the tiime, with up to 8mm plugs, using a 40W iron and a 1/4" chisel tip. They never come unsoldered in use. I use high quality rosin core solder, the 'paste' just leaves reside which forms corrosion. Forget guns, they don't work well at all due to small tips and insufficient tip mass. And really, you don't need 80 watts to solder successfully.....


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[iridebikes247]

Hm ok seems like i need some 8mm bullet connectors. So you run 8mm bullets, just curious how do you avoid shorting the two wires? I know i can heatshrink i just wish i knew of a really safe way to run them...thanks btw looks like ill be getting a new soldering iron.

[martin]

Yes the secret is in the size of the tip, the small pointy tips cant hold the heat & just disapates away faster than then the iron can keep heat in the tip.

[Fluid]

So you run 8mm bullets, just curious how do you avoid shorting the two wires? I know i can heatshrink i just wish i knew of a really safe way to run them...thanks btw looks like ill be getting a new soldering iron.

I run 8mm on my highest power setups, your 6mm should work fine for most uses. I heat shrink the bullet ends and use a rubber vacuum plug (automotive parts house) to cover the battery's exposed male end when it's not plugged into the ESC.


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[iridebikes247]

I am still kinda new with soldering turns out my heat gun is shot and my radioshack stuff is only 20w. I found castles 8mm bullets just in case i can't get creative with the 6mm thanks again btw. Might look kind of weird having 8mm bullet connectors on my 10 gauge esc, is it safe to use the 8mm bullet with my 10 gauge seaking 180 and also 12 gauge seaking 120?

[Fluid]

It is always safe to use a larger connector even on smaller wire, although it may be tough to solder it considering the large hole in the connector for the wire. The 8mm connectors are plenty for any FE use, even the 5.5s are enough for most applications. But more is fine too.



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[LarrysDrifter]

I always used an iron for tinning wire and a torch for soldering bullets. Fast and easy.

[iridebikes247]

Alright cool. Thanks again fluid and everyone else. I have been running Fe for 6 months now only on 4s im learning of how things change once you up the voltage.

[lenny]

I like the mini torch,
It works great for me and quick to tin and solder, And good for shrink wrap to.
Just do not get to close to it.
Hears a link. http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7.../dp/B0009VG73E
I got mine at lowe's cheap.

I always used an iron for tinning wire and a torch for soldering bullets. Fast and easy.