Has anyone got any tips regarding soldering on copper tube terminals (as shown below) to battery leads. My concern is that the insulation is going to fry in the process. I was planning on giving the lead and the terminal a coat of flux then wrap some cold wet rag around the insulation while I hit the terminal with a blowlamp and solder. Does this sound ok or am I headed for disaster? I have bought heatshrink to cover everything up nicely when done.

Cheer
Chris
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I did mine with a small gas torch (type chefs use to brown top of puddings). The insulation melted a little but the heat shrink covered it up. I think a full sized blow torch might make a bit of a mess - I might be wrong).
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you can always cut a slot in the terminal and crimp the cable on. Most aftermarket leads are crimped and not soldered. Makes a neat job if your soldering isnt up to scratch and the big terminals are difficult to get right and look good.

I did the same - the sleeving went back a few mm, but I covered that with glued heat-shrink.

The only alternative is to crimp it - but who's got one of them when you need one?

David

i have

I'v got the crimpers to do them, if your really stuck and want to post them to me, i could do them and post em back.

Ray

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've got a mini blow lamp as shown below and my soldering is usually pretty good so I think I'll give it a go with one end and see how it comes out. If it looks a mess then I'll give you a shout Ray!

Cheers
Chris
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I crimped mine by layin a steel pin on the front and squashing it in the vice a bit like the crap pic...
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If you bare the end of the wire then stand the terminal up in the vice, heat it up with the blowlamp and fill it with molten solder, flux the cable them just plunge it in and let it set it will hold.

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Originally posted by Peteff
If you bare the end of the wire then stand the terminal up in the vice, heat it up with the blowlamp and fill it with molten solder, flux the cable them just plunge it in and let it set it will hold.

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Plumbers soldering iron will do it (circa 85w IIRC) Blow lamp is a bit on the hot side. You don't want the solder to capillary up the wire too far otherwise it'll be prone to cracking later in life. Best is to crimp and then use adhesive lined heat-shrink to seal the job (if you use clear you can stick +ve or -ve label inside). The heatshrink also acts as a good strain-reliever.

I took my battery cables to a local auto electricians and they crimped the terminals on for a drink.I had previously cut them all to the correct lengths.

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Originally posted by ReMan
I crimped mine by layin a steel pin on the front and squashing it in the vice a bit like the crap pic...

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