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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Battery cable video. What do you think?
I want to do this by the weekend, what do you think of how this guy did it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4MapRlYG7A |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 7,268
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Good video. I've done it that way. He forgot to mention flux.
__________________
Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: bisbee, arizona
Posts: 1,529
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
IMO he should have trimmed the insulation back further.
he should have used more solder he should have heated both the copper cable and the terminal- good terminal end... not that junk lead end dont use acid core solder flux. rosin core only and one should always use the largest diameter cable, weldeing cable is almost always best. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
What I bought at NAPA is still out in the car but the clerk said "that solder contains resin." If so, is extra flux needed?
I bought 2 gauge wire, compared to my old cables, that is what the wire diameter seemed to be. |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LI, NY 11801
Posts: 1,140
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Bingo!
Quote:
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1970 C10 8' Fleetside, L6 250, 3 on the Tree. The most basic of pickup trucks! |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: bisbee, arizona
Posts: 1,529
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
rosin core.
biggest diameter wire with the highest number of strands. be carefull simply eyeballing guage based on insulation diameter. cheap wire has thick insulation made from material that is soft and even feels cheap welding wire is usually best. FAA-PMA approved is better still but maybe overkill. bigger core diameter made up of many more strands of finer copper wire. terminals are tin coated brass. but be careful as tin melts at only a slightly higher temperture than the lead soder. you may notice in his video that while its hot enough to melt the lead and even melt the insulation, the mass of the terminal draws away heat befor it can bond the cable to the terminal. Thats why it pulled apart with such minimal effort. and heat shrink should be used to reduce the corrosive effects of acid fumes at the connection between the terminal end and the copper cable. this is important because in that envirionment, with acid fumes so close by, dissimilar metal corrosion is always a consideration |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
We actually compared the copper cores, not the insulation when we decided on 2 gauge.
So no extra flux needed? What do you think of the heat shrink with adhesive inside? (billed as "being able to melt into the wire and seal it") What do you think of clear heat shrink? It's available and would allow one to see the joint and look for green corrosion (although it would look bad). |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Indanapolis, IN
Posts: 604
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
The heat shrink with adhesive inside is the way to go, IMO.
Where I work we crimp terminals like that. Almost nothing gets soldered here. |
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#9 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 7,268
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Flux may not be necessary if using resin-core solder, but it's surprising how well it works when you do need it.
I like to ''tin'' the bare end with fresh solder before I put it in the terminal, then feed more solder into the gap as needed, until it starts to overflow.
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Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 3,076
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Rule one is never use flux on anything electrical. Rosin core solder is for electrical connections. Regarding the video, completely useless. Don't learn soldering from someone who has no idea of how to solder. I promise his soldered connections are bad.
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
What I have decided to do is the following:
1). Get hold of some hydraulic crimpers. I may have to buy a set as no auto parts store in my area rents those. 2). Get hold of heat shrink that contains adhesive. *I'll have to order this. 3). Crimp the connection, solder, heat shrink wrap. 4). Put cables onto truck. 5). Post pics to this site. 6). Bask in the glory and thank everyone for helping me to do this. ![]() Thoughts? *I hear online that solder makes the cable less flexible at the end....thoughts? |
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#12 | |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,137
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Quote:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/l...SABEgK67fD_BwE Yes, soldering the connection can make the wire stiff. This happens when solder is wicked up the strands. Like soldering copper water pipe. Too much solder in the lug causes that. If your going to crimp and solder you don't need to put more than inch of 1/8" solder in side of the lug. (Obviously the bigger the lug the more it will need) Much more than that causes stiff ends. Tinning the wire usually is a good idea, but not if your going to crimp them. This is where using extra flux is a good idea. (BTW flux is the chemical cleaning agent used to prep the surfaces to be soldered. It comes in lots of varieties but the basic ones are Acid for joining nonferrous and ferrous metals and Rosin which is used for electrical connections.). So coat your wire end and the inside of the lug with Rosin flux before crimping. What method of heating the connection will you be using? I recommend doing some practice connections before hand so you can get a feel for the process. One of the key things when soldering is that once you have the solder applied correctly the wire and the lug MUST not move when cooling. Any movement will cause cracks or fault lines which can cause the connection to fail due to high resistance. Clamping things will prevent this. After soldering and before heat shrinking rinse the connection off with clean water and scub it lightly with a brush to remove any excess flux. Dry and install the heat shrink.
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. ![]() RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
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#13 |
At the body shop.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,212
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Have some crimped cables i did in 1990 still doing fine. No solder just heat shrink.
Been in 2 trucks so far.
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" That didnt make it any newer " " Dont antique the equipment " |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
I was planning on using a propane torch as a heat source.
*The more I go over this, them more I kinda realize I am probably vastly overthinking it! ![]() If a buy a crimper, I might go for something like this and use it in my bench vise. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E1UUVT0..._t1_B000M7LFKK I may just forget about the solder part.....might be vast overkill. I have red and black heat shrink but I might go for the adhesive kind. I saw some online that are 3:1 shrink. What NAPA sold me might be adhesive-lined, but they didn't say. I need to call and ask before spending more money. HO455, your crimper link has gotten me to thinking....there is a welding supply shop in town (I drove by there twice yesterday but didn't think about stopping) and they might sell these. If dad's tool isn't up to snuff, I'll give that place a check and if they don't have anything I like, I'll probably buy that tool you suggested. Last edited by In The Ten Ring; 10-07-2017 at 12:50 AM. |
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#15 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,137
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
I finally got the video to play. The guy has the basic idea but fails with the process. Doing it without crimping means you should "tin" the end going into the lug. And with a lug of that size putting flux in it before heating and adding the solder is a good idea. Then heat the lug till the solder melts and put the wire in. Then you need to keep it hot until you can melt solder on the wire. You then know the solder will adhere properly to both the lug and the wire.
The other problem is he is wiggling the wire as it is cooling. You are correct that soldering is overkill if you have good quality crimp lugs and the proper crimper. Welding leads are very rarely soldered and they regularly carry loads greater than 300 amps continuously. You may be able to have the welding shop put the lugs on for you if your other options don't pan out. PS I am a fan of the glue style heat shrink tubing.
__________________
Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. ![]() RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 598
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
+1 on the glue style heat shrink tubing. No need for it to be clear, trust me the stuff seals.
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#17 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
What do I think? I think we need to start a new battery cable sub-forum. It seems to be a big topic lately
![]() Honestly, there is no reason not to just go out and buy a set of cables for as cheap as they are and as well as they work. Just don't allow corrosion to develop at your battery connections...or any others. Are these the original cables you are replacing? Crimping works downright excellent. Battery cables/posts can get darned hot. I have had a hard to start diesel cause the post to melt out of the battery. Same as on my high compression Harley. The battery cable was fine. If they were soldered, that would have melted away.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#18 |
BlahBlahBlah
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wa.
Posts: 19,866
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
I went through this with my last project. The battery had been moved to the frame rail under the truck. I over thought it like you did. Finally went down to the local battery store and told them what I was up to. They gave me the right cable size, the correct ends, and one of those hammer crimpers. No soldering, easy peasy. Worked great with no problems. I later moved the battery back up to the firewall. Cut, strip, new end and crimp again.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Post Falls, ID
Posts: 889
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
I use this:
http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...iABEgJJjvD_BwE Works great and cheap. I usually don't solder. I f I do solder, I use solder on ends, not crimp on ends. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
OK guys, here is the update. I ordered some glue-lined heat shrink off ebay as the local NAPA only had one color and wanted 2 dollars per inch. They'd have to order theirs too and it only came in one color.
Dad found his crimp tool and ![]() Now about this heat shrink with glue lining....do I need to strip off enough wire leaving a gap between insulation and connector to allow the stuff to flow into the wires or do I just allow the insulation and end of connector to touch? |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 598
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
The heat shrink with glue doesn't need to contact the wire. Strip off enough insulation to get the wire fully into the connector, if there's a little gap between the insulation and connector it's not the end of the world as the shrink tubing will cover it. Speaking of, slip some shrink tubing over the wire, push wire into connector as far as it'll go, crimp, use heat gun on shrink tubing. Done.
About shrink tubing with glue. I've only used one type and the glue was basically a thin layer of hot glue, my buddy used to work for a defense contractor and snagged a bunch. Anyway that stuff required a bit more heat than the average shrink tube available in the electrical aisle at pep boys. Something you may want to keep in mind or if you're that worried about it do a test run on a scrap piece of wire to see when the glue melts and how much heat the shrink tubing can take. |
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#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Quote:
Very good suggestion, thanks! I ordered a bunch which will give me room for testing. I will try to use a heat gun but could use propane torch if needed. Here is my dad's crimper.....it is adjustable for different gauge wires. What do you guys think? *My cell phone is just a flip phone, not very large. |
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#23 | |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,137
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Quote:
__________________
Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. ![]() RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
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#24 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moss Point,Ms.
Posts: 1,439
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Quote:
I have that pair and it's big daddy-About 4' long handles. Just make sure you pull the handles all the way together for the correct crimp! Mike. ![]() |
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#25 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Battery cable video. What do you think?
Quote:
Dad said he bought that at least 40 years ago from an "Anchor Freight" store that is long gone now. He had to supply his own tools to work in the coal mines. I wonder what stories that crimper could tell! Dad was an electrician in the mines and worked almost exclusively in low top. |
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