I crimp all my connections. You can't beat a good crimp. But crimps have a downside, if there's ever movement, the crimp will quickly falter.

So after I crimp, I then solder & shrink wrap them. This keeps out the elements, improves the connection a little more, and locks out movement.

Perfect.

 

There seems to be pros & con in both methods......... I solder for security systems and crimp or use bare wire/set screw type terminals... for large power wires (#2, #1 to #0/2 AWG etc). and for speakers wise I like either solder or bare wire terminals.

The best connection are the bare wire terminals ofcourse....... it minimize the materials adding to the connection.... like with solder, there are lead/tin/flux and sometimes silver. on top of that, there's heat. and with crimps, either they are a copperbase lug with gold plating or its tin/copper.... which will add to the connection.

 

yup thats wat i do... when working on my system .... altho if i started doing alot of installations im sure i would end up taking shortcuts and not soldering

 

Actually electrically there is nothing better than a soldered joint, unless the wire isn't broken at all. The solder is like a weld, more material the more surface area for electrical conductivity. There are alot of air pockets in a crimped connection that are removed when solder is applied.

 

Well........... I do agree that a properly soldered connection is the most solid vs bare wire connection. But the thing is.... after a wire is heated up and cooled off and also introducing a few properties during the process is what make it not as transparent sonically vs a bare wire type terminal. now..... If you could only weld wires together without adding any materials.... that would be great. but it would be a PITA I bet.

you might ask why circuit board uses solder....... the reason is basically its the best way to connect parts to the board. and most of the part's (caps. IC, transistors etc.) leads are tin/copper anyways. and a tin/lead solder is commonly used. but even though it still has a characteristic.

Its true the bare wire terminal has air pockets........ but it is the purest for a direct connection.

 

The stongest mechanical connection is the best elecrical connection. solder is the stronger both ways (if done right). I love crimping,then soldering, cooling the connection down with anti-sieze, then heat shrinking. Nothing looks better or is stronger. unfortunately I cant do this on a $69. amp install. It doesnt make sense to spend that much time on a low paying job. I "pitch" my customers on spending a little extra cash and getting a better job.

 

I've got the solution! Crimp then solder. I've done this a few times and would probably yeild the best results. Copper on copper contact with solder filling the gaps.

 

Icrimp, solder and then shrink wrap... Unless theirs a screw down

 

When doing security or remote starter every wire gets soldered, but when you are doing a $45 deck install you get butt conecters, and you know what, for your every day deck install there is absolutly nothing wrong with butt connectors.

 

Well I manage a shop and we ask the customer if they want solder or crimps and let them know the extra cost.

If we are doing an install with anything over 4ga it gets soldered 100%.

Basic deck = butt connectors

with remote starts and alarms we only solder if the customer asks but I will gurantee 100% after my starter harnesses are done you could hang off them. I split the wires strip the starter wire back 2'' and poke it through and wrap it around 4-5 times then used good 3m tape that costs $12 a roll. We do solder starters in 2000 and up caravans and all other cars that have small gauge ignition wires and security bypasses are always soldered 100%.