| rtarbell |
What is the best way to connect very large gauge wires together (I’m talking 10 gauge, and even 8 gauge wire)? I’d really like to solder them together for lowest resistance, but that does not seem to be feasible with my 25 watt soldering iron and wood burner combination.
Should I use a terminal block (like the kind used in car audio amps for connections), or ring crimp connectors on each wire and then mount them on a common screw, or a crimp butt connector, or something else? |
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| Cal Weldon |
If you wish to solder, there are soldering torches available. They are little butane things.
I have even used a plumbing torch (screw-on gas bottle) for the really big stuff. |
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| KISS |
Unfortunately, you never mentioned wheter or not the wire was solid or stranded. Crimp connectors should never be used for solid wire.
These work wonders. www.newarkinone.com, p/n 31F2146. They have a "wire protector" which is thin strip of metal which when compressed by the screw won't make a mess out of the stranded wire.
Radio-Shack's version doesn't contain the wire protector, so I label them useless.
Splices for heavy gage wire using solder will require a bigger soldering iron or torch. Just use the proper twisting technique and cover with heat shrink tubing. A butane soldering iron also works. Self-fusing electrical tape can also be used to insulate. Black vinyl electrical tape is nearly useless. |
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