Soldering

[Phil in J'ville]

HELP!

I've soldered my rc gear ever since the 50s when I first started. Some looked great some not but most worked fine.

I have however, come up against a stopping point! I have a DSM rx with actuators to move the surfaces. I don't know what gauge the wires to the actuators are but, they are TINY and I have broken one!! I've tried soldering it but, no luck. :censored:

Is there a trick that I've missed?

I'd appreciate anything that anyone can tell me about performing this operation.

Thanks,

Phil in J'ville

[eflightray]

I assume you are referring to a miniature magnetic actuator, not what we normally call a servo.

If it is the magnetic actuator, two wire, then the enamel covering, (insulation), needs scraping off before it will solder. Very tricky at that size.

If it is a servo, three wires in a flat strip, it is often better to cut all three wires, re-solder and insulate. If the break is close to the connector, I have extracted the terminals and re made the joints there.

Good luck, hope you've got a good magnifying glass. :)

[E-Challenged]

If soldering tiny guage single conductor wire it must be scraped clean as stated but not nicked in the process. Position heat shrink tubing away from joint area. Apply electronic soldering paste, wrap wire ends together if possible, wipe tip of iron, apply fresh solder to tip , touch tip to wire joint and feed solder quickly watching for solder flow. Remove heat and don't disturb for about a second. Slide tubing into position and shrink with heat gun. Protect wire from flexing and breakage. Fine stranded wire soldering is similar but solder will wick into the strands and make the wire single strand and brittle. You need to support the wire with heat shrink tubing as above and protect it from flexing and breaking.

[WTFLYR]

If soldering tiny guage single conductor wire it must be scraped clean as stated but not nicked in the process. Position heat shrink tubing away from joint area. Apply electronic soldering paste, wrap wire ends together if possible, wipe tip of iron, apply fresh solder to tip , touch tip to wire joint and feed solder quickly watching for solder flow. Remove heat and don't disturb for about a second. Slide tubing into position and shrink with heat gun. Protect wire from flexing and breakage. Fine stranded wire soldering is similar but solder will wick into the strands and make the wire single strand and brittle. You need to support the wire with heat shrink tubing as above and protect it from flexing and breaking.
...and then there's the ones that blew, because they were nicked in the first place. A few years ago, I nicked wires on a motor by inserting a mounting screw too far. :( Eventually when ran hard, two wires blew at these weak spots. The wires were then pulled out a bit from the windings, scraped, and bridged with a small length of repair wire and soldered. Has been run up to near max current successfully now.

[rawr404]

Why is this in this forum? Sorry not to burst anyones bubble, just asking. :)