I don't know - paste sounds like another band-aid. I would certainly have to see some data before I would buy it. It actually does no good on proper crimp which is already gas tight. Might avoid some wicking up next to the crimp but now it simply wicks up next to the paste. What problem is it that Ancor is solving? If you work at it you can control the flow of solder via heat sinking and end up with a pretty well controlled connection on the crimped portion while supporting the connection with the insulation crimp. Takes particular connectors though and a certain amount of finesse. Actually most of the older military solder connections were practically indestructable if correctly assembled. It is only later when you get into the non-strain relieved connections that you have trouble with solder. Jim > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com > [mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com]On Behalf Of Arild Jensen > Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 6:09 PM > To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com > Subject: RE: TWL: Electrical trouble shooting > > > Jim Donohue wrote: > > A proper crimp done in a factory does not need and is not improved by > > solder. You just don't do any better than gas tight. Solder > immediately > > opens up fatigue problems - the reason that we used stranded > wire on boats. > > > > If you are very careful and support every connection then crimp > and solder > > and heat shrink is better for a field connection. I would > never solder in > > a factory situation. > > REPLY > Given that soldering will cause problems if improperly done, a > better field connection approach is > to use a anti oxidant paste in conjunction with crimping. > In the past year Ancor has been promoting the use of a paste > which you smear onto the > stranded wire before inserting the wire into the crimp barrel or sleeve. > As you crimp; the paste is squeezed out from the tightly > clenched wires, but remains in the > tiny air gaps between strands on both sides of the tightly > crimped crush point. > This paste prevents corrosive salt laden air from getting to the > wire strands and causing > corrosion. > > Soldering can cause damage to insulation and if it wicks beyond > the barrel will create a hard > point which will fail if there is any vibration or repeated flexing. > This is why mil spec connectors now requires crimping instead of > soldering. They learned the > hard way that soldered connections eventually have a nearly 100% > failure rate. > > regards > > Arild >

> [mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com]On Behalf Of Arild Jensen > Given that soldering will cause problems if improperly done, a > better field connection approach is > to use a anti oxidant paste in conjunction with crimping. > In the past year Ancor has been promoting the use of a paste > which you smear onto the > stranded wire before inserting the wire into the crimp barrel or sleeve. I found some similar stuff at Pep Boys (discount auto parts) for a buck or two. Dielectric Tune-Up Grease, made by Permatex. It comes in a small tube, like Loctite, so it's easy to squirt a little dab inside a connector. Seems to work good- I used it on connections that I never want to see again (like the fuel gauge sender under the cockpit deck). No connection (hey, wait a minute... <grin>) to any of these large, profitable companies. Sigh. db