Problematic spade lug in power supply

This topic come up often on the Amateur Radio lists I am a member of, especially as the UK Intermediate Licence includes fitting a connector to coax cable, but doesn't specify if it should be soldered or crimped, and many folks feel crimping is in some way cheating. Whilst I prefer solder, many folks say crimp is best. The problem with solder is that it creates a stress point where the solder "ends" so if the cable moves the cable can fracture. The heat can also alter the temper of the cable and make it brittle. (Unlike steel some copper alloys harden with slow cooling). This probably isn't an issue with most classic computer projects.... A properly crimped connector forms a cold weld and so is no less conductive that a soldered joint, should be mechanically sound, and flexes better than a soldered joint, but the tools can be expensive.... .. and I guess we have all had poorly made UTP/RJ45 (I know there is no such standard as RJ45) that has stopped working because the plug is no longer connected to the cable... Dave G4UGM -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell Sent: 14 September 2014 22:06 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Problematic spade lug in power supply I might question the 'far' here, but I have heard that crimp connections are very relaible _if done properly_. The last is the importnat point. I feel that a well done solder or crimp conneciton will beat a poorly done one of the others. And a well done crimp conenction means the right size crimp conencotrr, the right crimping dies, the correct tool to hold them, and so on. It does not mean the average DIY shiop crimping tool. And I am darn suroe of one thing. Even if a soldered connection is less reliable on paper than a crimped connection, a well-soldered connection in your classic computer is not going to be a major source of unreliability. -tony