Contents
Is it safe to solder AC wires?
The reason is that solder is a very good electrical connection, but a very weak mechanical one. Copper (or aluminum) alone can bend, flex, and even stretch a bit without any damage, so it’s suitable for things that move around a bit. Solder is very brittle and will crack and break if you try to flex it.
Can I solder a power cord?
Power tool cords that get accidentally cut or hacked can be permanently repaired in minutes with heat shrinkable tubing and a soldering gun.
What happens when you solder a power cord?
The restraint design depends on the strength of the cable. The strength of a copper conductor, stranded or solid, is reduced by soldering, as some of the diameter of the copper changes from copper to a copper tin alloy. The current rating is also affected.
Is it safe to solder an AC power cable?
Not sure if this should go here or in Super User, but I’m primarily concerned with how safely I can solder an AC power connection with little/no experience. So what exactly am I doing and why? I am looking to make some minor modifications to a home-theatre PC, one of which is relocating the power supply to inside the chassis.
How does soldering affect the flexibility of a cable?
The flexibility of the cable will be affected by the soldering, as solder typically wicks some distance up the copper. The restraint of the cable inside the equipment is typically redundant; a cable gland or clamp, followed by a screw terminal clamp on the copper end. The restraint design depends on the strength of the cable.
Can a power supply be solder to a chassis?
I’ve already cut out the back of a cheap power supply and all I need to do now is cut an AC power cable and solder it to the female plug so I can connect that to the power supply inside my chassis. But are there wattage/safety limitations with different types of solder?