Roof lights

Struggling to solder the wires on to the main wiring loom what size of soldering iron have people used
Keith

Waterways wrote:Struggling to solder the wires on to the main wiring loom what size of soldering iron have people used
Keith

Hi Keith
I used a 15 watt iron with a 4 mm diameter tip.
sorry if the next bit is teaching you to suck eggs but when soldering cleanliness is essential.
clean the enamel coating in the area to be soldered with fine wet and dry paper, then tin this area before you touch it again.
then tin the blue and white wires.
Wet the end of your iron with a little fresh solder then bringing the 2 tinned conductors together and re heat to melt together once melted the solder goes shiny at that point remove the heat and hold still until the solder re-solidifies.
Now repeat the process another 127 times to complete the task.
Hope this helps
Simon C

You forgot to mention 'flux'!!! No amount of soldering will work without flux!
Greg

Hi Greg

Most UK households soft solder is of the flux cored type so no real need to mention it.

Yes there is!! It still remains the most important component of successful soldering, no matter where it comes from!!
Greg

Thanks think I need a bigger soldering iron and clean varnish off the wire instructions said it would act as a flux
Keith

Keith
if you are using flux cored solder (electrical solder) then no extra flux is required.
I have been soldering for a very long time and have never heard of a coated wire that the coating becomes the flux when soldering.
That is not to say it does not exist just that its news to me.
The solder that you get for plumbing is usually plain solder with no flux core so requires you to use an additional flux paste, this is further complicated by there being lead solder or lead free solder and the flux for one does not work for the other.
My advice is electrical solder and a 40W soldering iron from Screwfix or Toolstation is perfect for the job in hand.
If it still wont play PM your address to me and I will come and help.
Simon C

I'd say it sounds like the varnish (if you are using un-insulated varnished wire) then you must scrap/sand the varnish off the area to solder.

Follow Simons guide and you shouldnt go far wrong, as simon says I've not heard of the varnish being the flux ?? and I've been soldering and making my own transformers etc using varnished wire for the past 35yrs

Simon's advice is sound advice!!
Greg

40w soldering iron scraped the varnish off jobs a goodun thanks for everyone's help
Keith