nickel vs gold plate crimp pins in dsub connectors

[groovebot]

anyone got an opinion on nickel vs gold plate crimp contacts in dsub25 and hd26 connectors? they all have gold plated tips, but the crimp tabs are either gold plated or bare nickel. i'm using it for aes/ebu and analog audio multichannel cables. i don't know if the anti corrosion properties of gold matter if:

a. the crimp tabs and cable conductor are mashed together in the crimp

b. the cable conductor isn't plated with gold.

c. the cable isn't going to move around much.

also, should i flux the parts before crimping them?

 

[DUG]

If you are going to solder the wire-to-connector junction then does it matter what the plating is?

I would not flux first.

 

[groovebot]

I've heard that soldering is not recommended when crimping

 

[pinkmouse]

You can solder after crimping if you really want to, but don't pre-tin the wires as the solder creeps under the pressure of the crimp and after a while it's no longer a gas tight joint.

 

[groovebot]

that makes more sense.

would the same reason we flux before soldering, getting non-conductive oxidation out of the way, not apply to crimping?

 

[DUG]

You can do one or the other or both but if you do both then dry crimp first.