Homemade battery cable

[JohnnieB]

The solder vs crimp argument will probable outlast all of us and our carts, but however you attach the lugs, I believe they ought to be the closed end type and the gap between lug and cable insulation ought to be sealed air tight.

Just my $0.02.

[simple man]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

The solder vs crimp argument will probable outlast all of us and our carts, but however you attach the lugs, I believe they ought to be the closed end type and the gap between lug and cable insulation ought to be sealed air tight.

Just my $0.02.

So right you are! If contaminants can't get to the connection, it won't corrode. Also about the heat melting the solder. This common alloy for silver solder, 50% silver, 34% copper, 16% zinc, has
a melting point of ~1280*F, and meets the specifications of ASTM No. 5! At this temperature, other bad things would have happened before the solder melted!

[2manytoyz]

Probably so, and I agree about not leaving any copper conductor exposed behind the lug. I use heatshrink. Even found 1" heatshrink that fits 4/0 cable nicely.

My only suggestion would be to crimp first, then solder if you want. That way if the solder melts, the lug is still mechanically attached to the cable.

[simple man]

Originally Posted by 2manytoyz

Probably so, and I agree about not leaving any copper conductor exposed behind the lug. I use heatshrink. Even found 1" heatshrink that fits 4/0 cable nicely.

My only suggestion would be to crimp first, then solder if you want. That way if the solder melts, the lug is still mechanically attached to the cable.

Sure wouldn't hurt! By the way, is your profile pic a real tag? Cool!

[2manytoyz]

Looks real, but not. There's a website where you can design your own.

I made some scale plates for some R/C equipment. Details and a link to the plate website here: http://2manytoyz.com/plate.html

[tyhuck]

Originally Posted by 2manytoyz

Anvil style crimper, found at Ace Hardware (welding section).



Works great on 2 ga, but also on this 4/0!

Thats the kind of crimper I used.