E-Fan Wire, Solder or Connectors?

[Dantheman-2003]

Getting ready to install e-fans. The OEM wiring harness came out of my 05 Yukon. I cut it out cause I was in a hurry so I need to add some lengths of wire. The splices I’ve tied together and soldered instead of using splice connectors. Anyone see concern or issues with this method?
Thanks,
Dan

 

[tom3]

That's always my choice when possible. Some concern about the stiffening of the wire at the connections but unless it's really small wire size I don't see any problem, and a soldered connection won't corrode or come loose.

 

[OR VietVet]

Solder is my preferred as well and then do a nice heat shrink on those joints.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

^^^^^x3^^^^^

 

[Dantheman-2003]

^^^^^x3^^^^^

@Joseph you in agreement?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

@Joseph you in agreement?

Absolutely, YES.

 

[adriver]

Don't take this personal, but your soldering needs some help. I wouldn't leave it like that. You can't get a shrink tube over it, and that looks horrible.

It looks like you tried the, "spread the strands, and intermingle" method. I would heat that back up and separate it and try again, or cut it off.

Tried to find a pic of what I think is the best way. If you cut lets say an inch off the end on both, then you overlap by a little more than half, make an X, and then twist together tight like the top. Then you can heat and add solder over top. (So even though you cut 1/2 off, and you don't completely overlap, it only ends up being about 3/4" exposed).

I've found unless I'm doing stuff on boards, I rarely even like soldering anymore, and only stuff that's between 12 and 16awg. Anything outside of that, I think a PROPER crimper does a better job. It's quicker, cleaner, and just as secure.

For smaller stuff, and hard to reach areas, if I really want a soldered connection, I use these self-solder shrink tubes:

https://www.amazon.com/TICONN-Connectors-Waterproof-Insulated-Electrical/dp/B07GDDKJ1D/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2HHF4BWYUCKNU&keywords=self%2Bsolder%2Btubes&qid=1697408104&sprefix=self%2Bsolder%2Btube%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[Dantheman-2003]

Don't take this personal, but your soldering needs some help. I wouldn't leave it like that. You can't get a shrink tube over it, and that looks horrible.

It looks like you tried the, "spread the strands, and intermingle" method. I would heat that back up and separate it and try again, or cut it off.

Tried to find a pic of what I think is the best way. If you cut lets say an inch off the end on both, then you overlap by a little more than half, make an X, and then twist together tight like the top. Then you can heat and add solder over top. (So even though you cut 1/2 off, and you don't completely overlap, it only ends up being about 3/4" exposed).

View attachment 411546

I've found unless I'm doing stuff on boards, I rarely even like soldering anymore, and only stuff that's between 12 and 16awg. Anything outside of that, I think a PROPER crimper does a better job. It's quicker, cleaner, and just as secure.

For smaller stuff, and hard to reach areas, if I really want a soldered connection, I use these self-solder shrink tubes:

https://www.amazon.com/TICONN-Connectors-Waterproof-Insulated-Electrical/dp/B07GDDKJ1D/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2HHF4BWYUCKNU&keywords=self%2Bsolder%2Btubes&qid=1697408104&sprefix=self%2Bsolder%2Btube%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

@adriver. Exactly the feedback I was looking for. Pretty terrible work. Big nasty booger welds. I ordered some Wego connectors and am going to redo all this. I want it to be clean. The PCM wires I soldered are X wrapped and cleanly tinned and shrink wrapped. So I will likely leave those alone.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, that pic example was not there when first posted the thread. That is ugly. What @adriver showed and said is the correct way. Then the heat shrink will not look like raggedy pregnant lump.

 

[Fless]

Gotta have a good mechanical connection first. If not using butt connectors I prefer the half overlap method here (link starts video at 6:19) that @adriver recommended:

 

[iamdub]

Electric fans are relatively high amperage devices so their wiring needs to be on point. Solder is best, but only if done correctly. An incorrect solder job can be worse than a crimp. YouTube it, practice on junk wire, etc. Learn how to use flux. If the solder doesn't get "absorbed" into the strands and just sits on top, the electrical connection is very weak regardless of how strong the mechanical connection is. A poor electrical connection + high amps = heat.

 

[tom3]

Also for soldering wire, use a good sized powerful iron/gun instead of the pencil tip deal and have a blob of melted solder on the tip of the iron. That powerful iron and the liquid solder will transmit the heat real quick into the wires and with the flux you'll get the solder soaked through the connection. Keep everything clean and shiny. Don't forget to put the shrink tubing on the wire before connecting. Now that's aggravating.

 

[iamdub]

Don't forget to put the shrink tubing on the wire before connecting. Now that's aggravating.

Done this too many times! Like learning how to flow the solder, I chalk it up to one of the steps of learning.

 

[tom3]

Seems like that half and half wire twist used to be called a Western Union splice? Really strong mechanical connection for overhead wires - and when soldered, can't be beat.

 

[Alex_M]

Skip out on the wego's you've ordered. I don't recommend them in any application, but particularly terrible in automotive applications because of the vibrations.

Solder and heat shrink (when using good heat shrink that seals itself - you'll see a little "goo" come out of the ends) is optimal. For the cost/benefit, I usually end up going with heat shrink crimp connectors. I've never had one fail as long as it was crimped and heated well. Much quicker.

If you do the solder/heat shrink method, using flux makes a massive difference.