Flexwatt clips vs solder

[The Serpent Merchant]

Actually its just the opposite, a good solder joint will give a near zero resistance connection and does not fail under normal conditions. As for "interference".... what are you talking about? The clips are a pressure connection and reversible. There is more potential for a high resistance connection to form over time on something that heats and cools (expansion and contraction)

Assuming both are installed correctly, are both safe and work? yes, but to say whats better.... soldering is the easy answer.

I was talking about someone who doesn't know how to solder.. IE the soldered joints are bad. I agree that if done properly soldered joints will be better.

Context is important

Unless you Know how to solder I wouldn't bother...

[Tfpets]

I used the clips until it was brought to my attention (on this forum) that you can get hot and cold strips from differences in resistance. Sure enough some of my strips were much cooler than others. I tore it all apart and soldered instead. Perfectly even temps now!

[OhhWatALoser]

I was talking about someone who doesn't know how to solder.. IE the soldered joints are bad. I agree that if done properly soldered joints will be better.

Context is important

Soldering makes it more likely to have uneven power flow, (especially if you don't know what you are doing) and can even pickup unwanted interference.

Your statement reads soldering is more likely to have uneven power flow, regardless of you knowing what your doing, since you said especially if you don't know what your doing. If it was already in context, you wouldn't of added it. context is important

also wondering what interference is since you mentioned it....

[Coleslaw007]

I used the clips until it was brought to my attention (on this forum) that you can get hot and cold strips from differences in resistance. Sure enough some of my strips were much cooler than others. I tore it all apart and soldered instead. Perfectly even temps now!

Anyone else had this issue using the clips?
It makes sense. Soldering isn't that hard, right? I'm pretty sure I could figure it out. Its not rocket surgery. I just don't want to have wasted money on the clips. Dang. I think I'm leaning toward soldering.

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[The Serpent Merchant]

Your statement reads soldering is more likely to have uneven power flow, regardless of you knowing what your doing, since you said especially if you don't know what your doing. If it was already in context, you wouldn't of added it. context is important

also wondering what interference is since you mentioned it....

Have you ever been a room with a PA system and a bad ground? The wiring will pickup all sorts of EM signals that are floating around. While this isn't going to be an issue for the flexwatt it could mess with a sensitive thermostat.

All I meant with "especially" is that it is more likely to happen if you don't know what you are doing. But it can happen to anyone. I've been through training and have certification to solder circuit board for military/medical use (class 3 boards) and solder sensitive components almost everyday at work... and even still from time to time I get a bad joint.

[OhhWatALoser]

Have you ever been a room with a PA system and a bad ground? The wiring will pickup all sorts of EM signals that are floating around. While this isn't going to be an issue for the flexwatt it could mess with a sensitive thermostat.

All I meant with "especially" is that it is more likely to happen if you don't know what you are doing. But it can happen to anyone. I've been through training and have certification to solder circuit board for military/medical use (class 3 boards) and solder sensitive components almost everyday at work... and even still from time to time I get a bad joint.

That issue isn't caused by a loose connection on the hot or neutral though, it's entirely different situation. You can plug it your high resistant connection and the thermostat would be fine, just would get less heat down stream of the connection. It's not going to pick up anything because of it.

I'm not trying to be difficult, just your original post seemed very misinformational. I know that was not its intent, but it could easily be read that way.

[The Serpent Merchant]

That issue isn't caused by a loose connection on the hot or neutral though, it's entirely different situation. You can plug it your high resistant connection and the thermostat would be fine, just would get less heat down stream of the connection. It's not going to pick up anything because of it.

I'm not trying to be difficult, just your original post seemed very misinformational. I know that was not its intent, but it could easily be read that way.

Look if you don't know how to solder and botch the joint you can:

Make the flexwatt run extremely inefficiently

Have connections come apart

damage the flexwatt/wires by overheating them

If the joint isn't insulated properly you can have interference issues (very unlikely but still possible)

Not to mention you can burn yourself pretty badly.

Overall if you don't have any clue how to solder it is much easier to just use the clips. I'm not going to argue this any further.

[Mike41793]

and even still from time to time I get a bad joint.

Hate when that happens

[Coleslaw007]

Hate when that happens

Ha ha is funny cuz he no talking about wires.

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[OhhWatALoser]

If the joint isn't insulated properly you can have interference issues (very unlikely but still possible)

this is my problem, misinformation, no you cannot possibly have any "interference" issues, the pa system example is caused by current being induced and takes the path through the speaker. when the system is grounded, it just mostly goes through the ground. This has absolutely nothing to do with flexwatt or remotely have anything to do with connection on the live part of the circuit.... so stop saying it does.

Also the above goes for a bad connection with the clips, plus you can pinch your finger with the pliers

OP check out this thread http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ghlight=solder

and also heres a video with good information on solder, even if its geared more toward electronics, still gives you the theory behind soldering. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4

then do what you feel your most comfortable with.