Melty banana connectors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ezalys
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 04:24:52 am
content: Hey everyone. I bought a ton of these ultra cheap banana connectors on ebay for breadboarding. Unfortunately, every time I try to solder to the metal lug, the inner tube seems to melt and retract inward. Any ideas for how to prevent this?

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 04:35:52 am
content: Uh...Un-bolt the lug, solder to it and then put the nuts back on?

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 04:55:20 am
content: Could also be related to the iron you're using, if it's taking a long time to make the joint, you're spreading a lot of heat around. A higher power iron will get the solder to melt sooner but with less overall heat dumped into it.Another good option is terminating the ends of your wires in spade terminals or the like and just slipping that on under the nut.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 11:00:40 am
content: try plugin in the male connector into it and solder, it help distribute the heat and prevent from shrinking. and yes, try to solder as quick as you can to avoid excessive heat transfer, meaning you need hotter or high power iron and a flux. ymmv.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 11:23:54 am
content: They may also have plating that doesn't readily wet with solder. Scuff up the plating on the wire hole end of the lug with a fiberglass brush or fine wet&dry paper, and coat it with extra flux before trying to make the joint.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 06:34:26 pm
content: I sometimes twist up a bit of wet paper towel and stuff it into connectors like this to keep that part from getting too hot. If it's vertical you can dribble a bit of water into it, water absorbs a tremendous amount of energy as it boils.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 11:29:45 am
content: Adding additional heat sinking will just mean the OP will spend even longer heating the thing up to make a joint. The blindingly obvious method of unbolting the tag and soldering it separately has already been mentioned and is a 100% effective solution to the OPs problem.

author: ezalys
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 04:46:01 pm
content: Sorry, I messed up and posted the wrong picture. The connectors I have feature a non removable spade connector at the back.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 04:57:33 pm
content: Adding heat sinking in an area you want to keep cool does work, you need a hot iron to heat up the area you're soldering but with connectors that lack a removable piece sometimes it's the only option.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 04:58:52 pm
content: Quote from: ezalys on April 01, 2018, 04:46:01 pmIn which case, crimping a matching spade connector on the wire might be the best solution. In the absence of the correct picture, it's hard to say more.

author: Eka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 03:29:55 pm
content: FastOn and Quick Connect are a couple of the brand names for the style of spade terminal I think was described. You have three things to size to find the right mating terminal. The wire size, width of the connector, and the thickness of the blade/spade terminal.https://www.digikey.com/products/en/connectors-interconnects/terminals-quick-connects-quick-disconnect-connectors/392?k=faston%20terminalsYou will also need a crimper to crimp the terminal to the wire.I use uninsulated terminals, and then add my own heat shrink tubing for insulation, and color coding the wire function.