Topic: Soldering experts? Two way toggle switch

[kck3]

I am getting ready to solder a two way toggle switch and I am wondering which way to do it.  This is the kind of switch that has two prongs on the bottom with a small hole in each one.  When I solder it, do I need to wrap the wire thru the hole and then solder it?  Or just solder the wire directly on the prong paying no attention to the hole in the prongs?

Thanks

[ieism]

As far as I know, you don't put the wire through the holes. Here's how I do it:
Clamp the items you want to solder into something, you need to hold the iron and solder and only have two hands.
put some solder on the prongs, the hole will fill up with solder giving it a strong connection to the prong. cut the plastic off the wire and twits the copper ends a bit (twist them in the direction the rest of the wire core ) to make them nice and tidy.
Put a small amount of solder on the wire ends too. You want the complete outside covered, but do it as thin as possible, not a solder lump.
I always prefer to work fast, melting the solder quick and apply. If I do it slow I always end up with a messy connection, and it won't be as strong either for some reason. And you may end up heating up the switch and melting something.

then clamp one end to hold it in place, and puth the wire where you want it to be. Touch the prong with the iron untill the solder on it melts and let the wire melt into it. Because you already aplied solder to both ends you probably don't need to add more.

It's pretty easy with a little practice.

[scottly]

I thread the wire through the hole, and fold it back against itself, then solder.

[GammaFlat]

Sometimes I'll enlarge the hole with the proper sized drill bit and then poke the wire through.  After that, I'd squeeze the wire flat where it entered and where it exited the hole with a pliers (lineman pliers are best).  Then I'll solder it.  Oh and don't forget (like I just did) to put the heat shrink on before you solder.  Kinda makes you feel like a putz when you forget . 

[333]

Clamp the switch to something. "Tin" the wire and tabs (heat the wire and tabs and melt the solder to them.)  And when doing this, press the iron against the wire and press the solder against the iron, allowing the solder to melt onto the wire.  In other words, the iron melts the solder, the solder heats the item(wire)and the solder will flow onto it.  Once both wire and tab are tinned, it's a simple matter to hold wire to the tab and heat until the solder intermixes.  Remove the iron, and hold the wire very still until it solidifies.  You can usually tell when it's solid when the surface of the solder turns from shiny to slightly dull.

Only use rosin core solder for electrical work.  Rosin is a substance referred to as "flux" that allows solder to flow on to different metals.

[the technological J]

what is the plus of soldering in thios situation? why not buy the slots that plug onto the switch and just are crimped on the wires

[scottly]

what is the plus of soldering in thios situation? why not buy the slots that plug onto the switch and just are crimped on the wires

In my experience, commonly available crimp-on connectors, even with the proper crimping tool, don't work very well.

[333]

Water can get into a crimp connector and cause corrosion.  Can't happen with a soldered joint.

[SD750F]

The wire should be prepped to have enough exposed and tinned wire to have a tight "J" or "U" bend. This will allow good mechanical connection and placed the wire to point away from the switch. Before you apply the solder, use a small needle nose pliers and lightly crimp the "J" or "U" end onto the switch tab. Then apply the solder only after heating the tab until the solder flows quickly and evenly.

[754]

Have not done it for years, but;

 I think switch should be  on its side or upside down to direct heat away.
 And the big one...AIM or Orient the wires in their Intended direction, before soldering........

[mystic_1]

I was taught that solder is for ensuring a good electrical connection, and only that.

It shouldn't be relied upon to provide a mechanical connection.

Looping the wire through the hole in the terminal provides a firm mechanical connection.  Soldering that connection provides good electrical conductivity.

mystic_1

[333]

Except that if you ever have to change out the wire, looping it through the hole makes it tough to get it off.    I agree that you shouldn't rely on it for a mechanical connection, but unless there is weight or pulling on the joint, solder is more than enough to hold it.

[mystic_1]

Desoldering iron makes it a snap

mystic_1

[Jinxracing]

Yeah, the solder joint shouldn't technically be relied upon for mechanical connection, but if your solder joint is under so much stress that it's likely to fail you're wires aren't routed right.

Try this: solder a wire to a clean tab on a switch you don't care about breaking and make sure you get a really good solder joint. Grab the switch in one hand, the wire in the other and pull like hell. The wire or switch will break before the solder joint does. I tried this test more than once when I was taught to solder because I didn't believe it was true.

Regarding the hole, I don't have any evidence to back this up other than common sense, but I'm of the opinion that the hole in the solder tab is there to reduce surface area and allow the tab to heat up a little more quickly. Probably not a big help, considering how many solder tabs I've seen that don't have holes.

If you use flux and get a clean, solid solder joint there's no need to worry about adding an additional mechanical strength. In fact, wrapping the wire through the hole will require more solder to fill and therefore a longer exposure to heat. More heat means more chance of damaging parts.

[BoneDaddy]

Let's not forget that it's important to prep. I always run some fine sandpaper and then a clean rag with a bit of pure alcohol over my soldering tip and contacts to make sure it's good and free of contaminants. You'd be surprised how much it improves the durability of a soldered connection.

[mystic_1]

A big +1 to that, proper preparation also makes it MUCH easier to get the solder to flow out properly.  Soldering dirty wiring is a b*tch.

A properly soldered connection is usually stronger than the surrounding material, that is true.  The above cautions are mostly to avoid a "cold solder joint" wherein the solder doesn't bond properly to one of the surfaces.  THAT sort of joint will fail fairly easily and doesn't conduct well.

The firm mechanical connection between the parts means that the gaps you're filling with the solder are small.

Also keeps you from ending up in a situation where the parts aren't actually touching each other and are joined only by the solder, that's sub-optimal.

mystic_1