Soldering vs. Traditional Connections in Electrical Installations: Pros, Cons & Regulations

Question

are soldering in the electrical installation allowed instead of traditional connections with cubes or terminals ???? what about twisting the wires and then isolating it with tape?

bestler · Answer

I do not know how it is theoretically, i.e. from the regulations, but I know that soldering has better parameters than any twisting or using cubes. The solder is a permanent galvanic connection, then there is no sparking - and thus the system is more reliable.

KMY · Answer

I agree with the bestler. Electrical installations at home, for example, are not soldered for one reason only. Difficulty in getting to all points with a soldering iron, and with possible future repairs, it is easier to unscrew the wire from the strip than to desolder it. And for such voltages and currents as in an electrical installation, a twist is enough, only well-made.
And if you need to extend a short wire, you can easily solder it, even if you can't twist it properly.

invx · Answer

that is, that the torsion is correct ?? because it seems to me not, after all, when you push such a twist into a can, not too deep, the twist may break, so you will never twist it so carefully that it does not sparkle later

Raaf · Answer

twisting + soldering later or insulation and it's great for years.
problems only when disconnecting (in the case of renovation, modification, checking). but there is a guarantee of good connection and no sparking (copper in these places will not oxidize. Good in conditions where there are corrosive fumes (pigsties, battery rooms, etc.), or humidity)
in the case of extending the cables, twisted connections are recommended (solder increases the resistance at this point and, consequently, heats the cable)
greetings

invx · Answer

so it should not solder ??

bestler · Answer

My friend Raaf, maybe solder has more resistance than copper itself, but I'm sure that if, for example, you connect the cable in a deep well, at a depth of 70 m, it is worth twisting, soldering and protecting it against moisture. In a home installation, however, there are no special indications to solder the wires, unless, for example, we notice sparks in a box, flashing lights, etc.

Coming back to overheating of the solder, it never happened to me that the soldered wire would desolder itself, that I was aware of too much heat emitted on the connector (I mean home installations all the time), but I have already seen a lot of burnt cans, sockets, circuit breakers where "something" did not connect ;)

Regards

balt · Answer

Unfortunately, my colleague Raaf is right, the solder connection has more resistance for two reasons:
1.A combination of at least two different metals (wire and solder material),
2. fabrication of a metal alloy surface
However, the losses are not so big that it will desolder right away. I personally made a twisted pair installation and soldered is still without reservations today. I soldered it so that I turned on the current, heating the 250W soldering iron (like for gutters), then turned off the voltage and a few solders and heating again, etc. Such installation excludes the possibility of later modifications, at least it is difficult. Currently, I recommend a twisted pair for "caps". I don't know what Polish ones are, but I use American ones and they are great, no connection problems.

bullo · Answer

as for the legal basis, I mean the SEP regulations, it is so ....

"The wires can be joined together by welding, pressing, soldering and using accessories designed for this purpose."

"Copper conductors with solid conductors up to 10 mm2 and cables up to 6 mm2 may be connected without terminations, except that the ends should be soldered. Copper conductors above 10 mm2 should have terminals, and for aluminum, use spring-loaded screw connections.

this is all that can be found in the regulations on the method of connections in electrical installations up to 1KV

balt · Answer

Personally, I do not recommend soldering the end of the cable to the screw terminal, they burn or melt very nicely. Like a stranded wire and a clamp, the screw is either a suitable terminal or nothing.

thalex · Answer

The soldered wire must not be screwed on with a screw !!! Because tin is brittle, it will not show any spring properties, such a connection is very susceptible to burnout. If you do not believe it, take a look at the extensions after some time of their use, where someone soldered the ends of the wires to screw them with a screw I understood the quote so that you can twist the screw after soldering: oh well, unless I misunderstood

bullo · Answer

buddy thalex I know that this may raise doubts ... I have mixed feelings about this ... but I only cite the entry from the SEP regulations ....
... they explain the rationale for such conduct by "protecting against the possibility of individual wires separating in the lines" by soldering or by using endings or sleeves ...

greetings

thalex · Answer

I know it from practice.

The soldered line and the bolted in the clamp will burn out, of course, with a significant value of the flowing current.

Not to be confused with ring terminals, which are intended for soldering and then for twisting with a screw.

bestler · Answer

Well, as you can see, everything depends on what and for what purpose it is supposed to be used. I think that the author of this post has a total confusion in my mind

grzegorz_r · Answer

1. Twisting wires in electrical installations is used. I even met covers for twisted wires (fixed with one screw).
The advantage of a twisted connection: direct copper-copper contact, not copper-other metal as in the case of cubes.
2. Soldering twisted wires (only applies to wire)
I checked 2.5mm2 on the cable. I spun it, soldered it, and disassembled it. Twist length 2.5 cm. With well-twisted conductors, several points of contact between copper and copper are created, which the tin cannot access. In this case, brazing the twisted wires acts as a mechanical stiffening and encapsulates these points. All in all, a very reliable connection.

Soldering vs. Traditional Connections in Electrical Installations: Pros, Cons & Regulations

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