File: D:/web/homefly/reference/splice.htm
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<title>How to splice wires</title>
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<b> How to splice wires:</b><br>
<li>Strip insulation, twist strands and tin the ends of the wires to be spliced.</li>
<li>Rest one wire on the table and touch the second wire and the soldering iron
to it simultaneously.</li>
<li>Allow solder to cool undisturbed.</li>
<li>To insulate the splice, paint it with enamel (preferably the same as the
insulation color) or 5-minute epoxy. Unbend a paper clip and use it to stir the paint. Apply
the paint with the end of the paper clip. You may want to apply two coats.</li>
<li>Wipe the paper clip with a paper towel to switch to a different color. Enamel
that coats PVC insulation will not dry, therefore it is advisable to paint
it with clear dope after you're done.</li>
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<p><b>Magnet wire</b>:<br>
To solder enamel-coated wires, it's necessary to first remove the enamel and
tin the copper underneath with solder. Fortunately, the enamel is designed to
burn off cleanly at normal soldering iron temperature. Don't try to scrape the
enamel off with a blade as you will likely nick or cut the wire. Instead, apply
a soldering iron and solder to the end of the wire until a bead of solder forms
around the wire. You must keep the wire and the soldering iron in this bead
for at least 30 seconds to give the enamel time to burn clean and allow the
copper to become completely tinned.</p>
<p>Another way is to put a large bead of solder on the tip of your iron. Under
magnifying glass put the wire into the drop with an in-and-out movement. Add
new solder as soon as too much garbage is visible. If the end of the wire is
not completely immersed in the drop, or if the iron is not hot enough, the wire
will not become tinned.<br>
<br>
To solder 2 enamel wires together, it's best to twist the wires together (enamel
and all), and then apply solder and iron to the joint for 30 seconds until the
solder flows smoothly onto the joint. A smaller joint can be accomplished by
aligning the two wires on an aluminium plate and working them patiently with
a soldering iron until a suitable joint is obtained.<br>
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