Soldering Tips?

[Tsunami]

Can anyone point me to an FAQ on soldering or answer some questions for me?

Far the life of me I can't seem to get the ESC wire to solder well to the tabs on the motor. The solder will melt and stick to the wires no problem, but once hardened, it just cracks right off of the motor tab. I've tried using flux on the tab and tried heating the tab up with the iron. NO luck.

What is the trick? It can't really be this difficult so I must be overlooking something? Should the tab on the motor be "roughed up" with some fine grit sandpaper? Is there a right and wrong type of solder? I'm using some stuff I had at work.

I guess the thing is that the solder doesn't "stick" to the motor tab. I can even melt some solder and dab it on the tab and then it will crack off after it cools. The resistors I installed on the other side are pretty solid, but I just can't get the **** ESC wire to stick! I feel like such a **** newbie.

Arghhhhhhhh!

FYI -
Motor = Trinity Speed Gem
ESC has Braided Copper Wires

[BlackWolf]

Hmm, weird. Maybe try scuffing up the surface to be soldered to. Your solder might not be very good. Your flux may not be any good.

Remember, apply the solder to the wire.

&

Don't use acid core solder :)

[nrgtrader]

Be sure you tin the wire before trying to solder it on to the motor. By tinning, I mean heat the stripped wire end with the iron and then apply solder to it so that what you are left with is the end of the wire full of solder. Practice this on some old wires laying around. Then tin the contact tab on the motor. Put the tinned wire on the contact tab and lay the iron on top of the tinned wire (not too much pressure or you will crush the wire when the solder remelts). Wait a few seconds and once the solder on the wire melts, the solder on the tab will melt as well making for a nice, one connection joint.

The solder cracking after it cools is indicative of what is called a "cold solder joint". This can happen if you apply too much heat.. try to cool the joint by blowing on it.. and other ways. Go buy some good electronics quailty solder at Radio Shack (not acid core, you want rosin core) and clean all of the old solder off and try again. You will know you have a good joint when the cooled joint looks smooth and shiny.

Hope that helps.

For tips online, go a Excite! and search for "cold solder joint"

[FilthyPierre]

I always thought a cold joint came about by not using enough heat. But anyway, try this link to Weller's Guide To Better Soldering (http://www.coopertools.com/literature/weller/55578.pdf). It's opbviously baised towards Weller irons, but should provide enough information.