001 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I have wondered for a few years what the function is of the hole in the side of the 'solder socket' on some 3.5 and 4 mm gold connectors? If the metal was thicker I suppose it could accomodate a screw, but it is too thin for that and normally what happens is that the molten solder comes out of the hole. This makes it difficult to make a neat job and to slip the heat shrink over. It also makes the process take twice as long as you sometimes have to clean the excess solder off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Ramsay Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I was led to believe it is to allow air to escape as the 'bucket' fills up thereby avoiding a gob of molten solder in the face, but could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyS Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Richard, I use the hole for inserting the point of the soldering iron while I'm heating the bucket - works really well. Insert iron, heat a while, fill bucket with solder (well, not fully obviously) remove the soldering iron at the same time as positioning the tinned wire. Works beautifully every time and the rounded bottom of the bucket helps centre the wire as you position it in. I learnt this from a YouTube vid on how to solder 4mm gold connectors. The video was made in india or pakistan but it was brilliant and having watched it once I never ever had a problem getting a really excellent joint, nicely centred on the wire. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 Tony, makes sense, but I use an iron with a flat end, and, doesn't the solder still come out as the iron is removed?Edited By Richard Bond on 09/10/2009 17:14:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyS Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hi Richard, Bizarrely, the solder doesn't come out unless you are peculiarly ham-fisted when you position the wire in the connector. When this has happened to me, there is a small bulge of solder where the hole is and I've just filed it off. Might be time to put a pointy iron on the Christmas list... T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyS Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Andy's comment reminded me of my pal who, many years ago when I was nobbut a lad, melted down some lead to make fishing weights. He'd drilled a wooden block out with holes the right size for his new weights then, (and this was the daft bit), he washed the sawdust out of the block. When he poured the molted lead into the holes the residual water turned to steam and he ended up splattering the kitchen ceiling with molten lead. It was blinking lucky he didn't have his head over the block at the time! No common sense. He was also the one who set fire to my bedroom when we were making fireworks - we were using a pestle and mortar to grind the ingredients so to speed everything up he mixed all the ingredients BEFORE he put them into the mortar. Needless to say it all went off and when it did he threw the thing which landed on my bed....... He's now a GP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Grigg Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Same here with the hole I put the solder end into the hole and when it starts to flow by the wire Im soldering in \\\\\I know there is enough solder in the joint.I also often file the lump off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnor Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Oops - did a posting and lost it, so try again. I got fed up trying to solder up 4mm connectors with holes in the bucket. I think they're to act as a "bolt" and lock the soldered joint together. I did a piece on this in Hints and Tips, but here it is again. Cut a piece of kitchen ali foil 20mm by 10mm and wrap this tightly round the bucket part of the connor (covering the hole !!) Grip the wrapped connector in a clothes peg, make sure the peg's secured, fill the bucket with solder then insert the pre-tinned wire. Works every time and nothing to file off afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I don't know what its intended function is - but I use it to look down when I'm soldering, I can see the solder melt and flash over the joint through the hole - very handy! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Blimey, what a fuss! Drill holes in a bit of wood to accommodate three bullets - that's enough for a motor - and you can use it time and again. Just stick the flat or the side of the point against the hole and melt enough solder into the top until you have a concave meniscus. You don't need to have it running out of the hole! Do a batch of as many as you need.Hold the tinned wire above the bullet, reheat the bullet and as the solder flows ease the wire into it. Take away the heat, hold the wire for a couple of seconds and the job's done......Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayCee Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Well I think I'm pretty good at soldering having been an electronics engineer before I retired. But still find getting the perfet joint on a 'Deans' plug difficult especialy with the large diamiter wire on 6S batteries! even with an 80 watt iron! I know what you are going to say, why use a 'Deans' Well it's like everthing else I've carried on with what I started with. My Watt meters, chargers, ESC are all geared up for 'Deans' connectors. JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 For me bullet connectors are easy peasy. If a bit of solder comes out the whole who cares? It gets covered my heatshrink anyway. Deans and XT60's are a bit tricker despite a 100W soldering iron.... Persistance is the key. I've seen the ali foil trick to seal the bucket hole but really don't understand why it's a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Giles Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I think the hole is designed to let the solder out to give a good mechanical joint or 'key'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I don't think the OP or others are particularly having problems here I understood they were simply curious as to why the hole is there at all! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Williams 2 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I just presumed the hole gives the hot solder an escape when it is displaced by the wire core so it dosnt spill out the top and burn the insulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 So this old one has emerged from the depths ! I think I should originally have expanded on this:- Some of the heatshrink that I have is a very tight fit over the connector, so tight that I can not slip it over until the metal has cooled down completely because it would cause the tubing to shrink prematurely. Any blob of solder on the side or spilled, completely stops the sleeve from sliding over. So I prefer a connector without the hole on the side. Obviously some of you quite understandably, use different tools, materials and techniques. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I find the hole a nuisance to Richard. As suggested not all have the offending hole. I remain to be convinced that it makes for a better joint, yet not enough of a nuisance to do other than think why bother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 same as polo mints...........why the hole?.... ken anderson ne..1. 'sorry' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Depending on source, some of mine have holes, some have "full bucket" although shallow, some have deep full bucket, and some have a half bucket.Whichever type is used, any excess solder that is expended is simply ground off with a dremel sanding drum, which makes the fitting of the heatshrink tube a doddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I did wonder whether it might be to allow side-fitting the cable? I guess there must be an occasion use for a 90 degree fitting.Edited By Bob Cotsford on 23/06/2011 21:13:19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 The holes I've seen are a bit small for that Bob? BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 well it was only a theoryActually I've seen quite a few that would easily accept a cable from the side. I'm just struggling to think of an application that would use side-entry without a severe risk of shorting as it wouldn't be easy to get heat shrink on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Bob Short wires from an EDF motor that reach as far as the rim only .?? Don't ask me how I know ? This is getting silly I know & I'm not helping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Whybrow Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Perhaps the connectors were designed for crimping; I'm not familiar with the type being discussed though. Barrel type crimp connectors have a hole in the side to enable the operator or quality man to check that the wire is deep enough inside the barrel when it's crimped, if you don't see any wire through the hole, the crimp is considered bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James40 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 That's exactly what it's for Martyn, in theory to give the connector good strength and support, the cables insulation should butt up against the barrel of the connector. To ensure the cables go to the end of the connector barrel with the insulation butted against it, they provide an inspection hole at the end. I did a Precision Termination Testing (PTT) course many years ago at RAF Sealand, possibly the dullest course I've ever done but worth it for the nights out in Chester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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