Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: jimmy2x2x on August 10, 2010, 11:50:25 pm
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How would you solder to the solder tabs on one of these sockets?
(http://www.chsinteractive.co.uk/images/products/medium/1236823319-98915200.jpg)
Would you use quick disconnects for the solder tabs?
Solder straight on there?
Solder then heatshrink?
Whats the best way/safest to do it?
cheers
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I'd recommend fully insulated (!!) quick connects of the proper size (they're usually .187" or .250"). Make sure they fit snugly.
If you'd rather not use quick connects and would prefer to solder, pass a wire through the hole in the middle of the tab, pull it so that it's aligned along the axis of the tab (difficult to describe, but you basically form an S-curve out of the wire where the bend goes through the hole in the tab but the wire is still flush to the tab), solder, and cover with heat shrink. Do not leave the tabs exposed. That's line voltage AC, there. Too easy to get in to trouble if you don't insulate it.
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EMPHASIS ON THE HEAT SHRINK! I didn't heat shrink the inside on one of my projects, dropped a screw while i was working and flipped a breaker!! Thankfully nothing on the inside got harmed, but I got VEEERRRRYYYYY LUCKY!
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I used the same type of plug. Works great and looks great too. I just soldered it and used heat shrink tubing from Radio Shack. Here is a pic of it, well, you can see it anyway in the lower right with the black and red heat shrink tubing on it. The intention of the red tubing was to cover the 3 black sets of tubing, but the cables were too stiff to slide it over. The smaller black tubing covers all leads anyway so I am set.
(http://www.joeholman.net/bartop/20a.jpg)
and another:
(http://www.joeholman.net/bartop/20.jpg)
Joe