Hi All,
I have made a couple of DIY interconnects using inexpensive cable and KLH bullet, connectors. I think I managed to do OK with them but honestly the long term reliability worries me somewhat.
The RCA plugs use these tiny, flat connectors with U shaped prongs internally. They are flat, small, and have no hole to hook the wire through or around really. Looking at pictures online, the ones I had were definitely not curved and flat.
I'm just wondering, what is the soldering strategy of attaching a tiny wire to the end of a piece of metal when it barely has a place to put it, let alone tie it or put one inside the other?
I have made a couple of DIY interconnects using inexpensive cable and KLH bullet, connectors. I think I managed to do OK with them but honestly the long term reliability worries me somewhat.
The RCA plugs use these tiny, flat connectors with U shaped prongs internally. They are flat, small, and have no hole to hook the wire through or around really. Looking at pictures online, the ones I had were definitely not curved and flat.
I'm just wondering, what is the soldering strategy of attaching a tiny wire to the end of a piece of metal when it barely has a place to put it, let alone tie it or put one inside the other?
I usually use sandpaper or an x-acto knife to scrape the tab before tinning.
Some plastic connectors don't like much heat when trying to tin or they melt.
Scraping shouldn't be necessary for a new connector. For el-cheapo low melting point problems,
plug the connector into its mate before soldering. That will hold things in place until it cools.
plug the connector into its mate before soldering. That will hold things in place until it cools.
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Sometimes I also make the same when soldering power or speaker connectors with thick 2.5 sqmm wires.
For holding XLRs & RCAs I use a small cable tester.
For holding XLRs & RCAs I use a small cable tester.
I would think that if you have made a good solder connection and not melted/damaged the insulation, that the cable should be as robust as the connector is. I don't think you need to poke the wire through a hole. Ensuring that you use the strain relief for the cable will mean that if the cable is yanked, the strain relief will take the force, not the soldered connections.
I couldn't easily find any info/pics on the KLH bullet connectors. Is it an RCA? Can you provide a pic/link to one?
I couldn't easily find any info/pics on the KLH bullet connectors. Is it an RCA? Can you provide a pic/link to one?
You could consider filling the back end cavity with resin or epoxy. You are not going to be able to repair anything but this would keep out gunk and make it almost bullet proof- get it -- bullet...
Always plug the RCA connector into a cheap female one while soldering. That way even if the plastic softens a bit, the center pin will stay centered.