Laptop power switch solder question

[rawbe]

I have a Dell Studio laptop and I plan on using it for a Bartop build. I disconnected the power switch and soldered two wires to the PC's power wires. The wires are very fragile and  I have disconnected them twice trying to get everything to fit in the cab. So I am looking for a way to protect the wires from being moved around. Any suggestions?

[Vigo]

Hot Glue?

[bobmoo79]

If the wires are soldered to the PCB you could try a glue gun - put a blob of melted glue over the connection.

[rawbe]

So hot glue on top of the solder? Then possibly electrical tape over the whole mess

[bobmoo79]

Like this:




Probably no need for electrical tape as hot glue is an insulator, but I guess it may depend on your own situation.

[rawbe]

Ahhhhh. Actually the solder is between the PC's wires and my switch wires. No PCB. The PC's wires are very fragile with no slack. The solder is holding but needs reinforcement. I have one shot at this. If it doesn't work the can of worms will be opened.

Is hot glue still an option on the wires and the solder connection?

[JDFan]

Ahhhhh. Actually the solder is between the PC's wires and my switch wires. No PCB. The PC's wires are very fragile with no slack. The solder is holding but needs reinforcement. I have one shot at this. If it doesn't work the can of worms will be opened.

Is hot glue still an option on the wires and the solder connection?

Liquid Tape (available at most car parts places) for less than $10 and a 4 oz. bottle lasts a long time - It is a rubber liquid that coats the joint. OR heat shrink tubing ( but that really needs to be put on before soldering so might be a bit late for that)

[rawbe]

I kick myself for not using shrink tubing. I thought about cutting a tube in half and fitting with superglue. The suggestions so far are better than that route.

[keilmillerjr]

I kick myself for not using shrink tubing. I thought about cutting a tube in half and fitting with superglue. The suggestions so far are better than that route.

No shrink tubing?! Just desolder it, cut a slice of shrink tubing, slide it over one end, and resolder.

[bobmoo79]

IMO you could still use hot glue. It would be a stronger connection than just leaving it as it is, and probably stronger than using insulating tape wrapped around the joint.

If you don't have any hot glue, do you have any zip ties? If so, you could loop the cable around once or twice and then zip tie it together quite tight to act as a strain relief. That would prevent any action pulling the cables apart from breaking the joint. Then you could probably use electrical tape top cover it. not sure if I described it well, but I know what I mean :-)

[rawbe]

The wires are to short to zip tie and desolder is not option. The actually wire I soldered is tiny tiny tiny and will break if I mess with it further. It is soldered and holding it just needs help. So hot glue over liquid tape? Thanks for the help!!

[Vigo]

Cut the tiny wires down short, put on female quick disconnects, and just cover the entire wire down with hot glue, until there is no way any part of the wire or QD can move. Then you can get beefier wires with male QDs and have that go the rest of the way to the power button. That way, if you take things apart later, you don't have to muck with a fragile, tiny wire.

[rawbe]

Vigo- Thanks! That will be the plan if the hot glue doesn't work. Would it be overkill to do both the liquid tape and hot glue?