wire cutting on servos ext wire
03-18-2013, 02:12 PM
#1
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wire cutting on servos ext wire
if the ext wires are to long can they or would you cut the wire on the ext wire........need to remove 1ft or so........thanks
03-18-2013, 03:02 PM
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RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
I don't use store bought extensions but I do cut the servo wire and splice in the length needed. I have been known to remove some of the extensions and re-solder them if they are too long for a different plane. No reason to do it other then having a cleaner look inside the plane. I have also just wrapped the wire and used a fiber tie to shorten/clean them up.
03-18-2013, 06:32 PM
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RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
As an avionics s tech I would not cut to splice just because the leads are too long. Instead I'd fold the extra length back and forth and either tye wrap or tape it in place. No matter how good the splice is it is not as good as the wire
03-19-2013, 06:56 AM
#4
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RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
This depends on the plane; on a very small one where weight is important as well as space, I'd cut and splice to shorten, on a larger plane, just fold and tie back. Contrary to one input above, a properly made splice is ever bit as reliable as the original full length wire.
03-19-2013, 07:39 AM
#5
RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
Handyman the answer to your question is yes the wires can be cut and shortened for a custom fit. Been doing it as far back as I can remember quite successfully.
Yes there is good reason for doing it and that is reducing total resistance and more importantly eliminating excessive numbers of plugs. The worst ones are the buried and hidden plugs which do corrode and cause problems. This because the plugs are never self cleaning from use like the ones that are used routinely plugged and un plugged.
Virtually every one of my airplanes for instance that require aileron extensions as GB described will simply cut the new leads in two and solder in the perfect length of new heavy duty servo wire (I prefer the twisted).
Both of my P-38's required 68 solder joints and if I had attemped to use standand length extensions exclusively it would have resulted in excessive extra wire and worst far to many buried plugs.
I am not a electronic techie of any sort and do not want to be, I am a survivor. Acquire the tools, Learn to solder simple splices now. It is the perfect place to start learning to solder and you will not be sorry for making the effort.
John
Yes there is good reason for doing it and that is reducing total resistance and more importantly eliminating excessive numbers of plugs. The worst ones are the buried and hidden plugs which do corrode and cause problems. This because the plugs are never self cleaning from use like the ones that are used routinely plugged and un plugged.
Virtually every one of my airplanes for instance that require aileron extensions as GB described will simply cut the new leads in two and solder in the perfect length of new heavy duty servo wire (I prefer the twisted).
Both of my P-38's required 68 solder joints and if I had attemped to use standand length extensions exclusively it would have resulted in excessive extra wire and worst far to many buried plugs.
I am not a electronic techie of any sort and do not want to be, I am a survivor. Acquire the tools, Learn to solder simple splices now. It is the perfect place to start learning to solder and you will not be sorry for making the effort.
John
03-20-2013, 04:57 AM
#7
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RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
ORIGINAL: handyman
if the ext wires are to long can they or would you cut the wire on the ext wire........need to remove 1ft or so........thanks
if the ext wires are to long can they or would you cut the wire on the ext wire........need to remove 1ft or so........thanks
It seems rather foolish to me to cut a section out of a servo lead and solder it back together. If this is a common practice in your shop then I suggest that you cut off the connector, cut the wire back to the required length and install a new connector. No soldering involved. There are crimping tools and connector parts available so you can install a new connector the same way the servo manufacturer does. http://hansenhobbies.com/
03-20-2013, 06:09 AM
#9
RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
Installing a new plug and new crimps is already wasteful since what I suggested is the already new servos and plug mearly has the lead cut in half. This also accounts for the difficulty in obtaining the crimps as well as the tool. Now I have in the past tried at least four different brands/types of crimpers specified for these plugs and all were difficult to use involving much waste in crimps every time to say nothing of costs and frustration.
Just cut the new servos lead in half and Shorten as needed then resolder is a far simpler technique and safer as the crimping involves a skill set that can easily be poorly done making the crimp easy to pull out. The majority of cases involves lengthening the leads and adding wire.
Grosbeck that is a very handy tool you have devised there indeed. The technique I use for simple wire splices is to use a wooden furniture clamp to hold each side one at a time to tin the leads. Then for final soldering to hold each side then just lay the opposites sides tinned lead aginst that one with one hand and a touch of the iron in the other untill the solder flows. Do not try to twist the leads together.
John
Just cut the new servos lead in half and Shorten as needed then resolder is a far simpler technique and safer as the crimping involves a skill set that can easily be poorly done making the crimp easy to pull out. The majority of cases involves lengthening the leads and adding wire.
Grosbeck that is a very handy tool you have devised there indeed. The technique I use for simple wire splices is to use a wooden furniture clamp to hold each side one at a time to tin the leads. Then for final soldering to hold each side then just lay the opposites sides tinned lead aginst that one with one hand and a touch of the iron in the other untill the solder flows. Do not try to twist the leads together.
John
03-20-2013, 06:27 AM
#10
RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
Here is the standard duty Hitec servo bulk wire (enough to make a lot of custom aileron leads or fuselage leads). Or the heavy duty is 15.95 I think. My personal preferance is the twisted heavy duty type avalible intermintantly from servo city and possibly from others.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXPWC1&P=RF
John
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXPWC1&P=RF
John
03-20-2013, 07:17 AM
#11
Senior Member
RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
ORIGINAL: JohnBuckner
Installing a new plug and new crimps is already wasteful since what I suggested is the already new servos and plug mearly has the lead cut in half. This also accounts for the difficulty in obtaining the crimps as well as the tool. Now I have in the past tried at least four different brands/types of crimpers specified for these plugs and all were difficult to use involving much waste in crimps every time to say nothing of costs and frustration.
Just cut the new servos lead in half and Shorten as needed then resolder is a far simpler technique and safer as the crimping involves a skill set that can easily be poorly done making the crimp easy to pull out. The majority of cases involves lengthening the leads and adding wire.
Grosbeck that is a very handy tool you have devised there indeed. The technique I use for simple wire splices is to use a wooden furniture clamp to hold each side one at a time to tin the leads. Then for final soldering to hold each side then just lay the opposites sides tinned lead aginst that one with one hand and a touch of the iron in the other untill the solder flows. Do not try to twist the leads together.
John
Installing a new plug and new crimps is already wasteful since what I suggested is the already new servos and plug mearly has the lead cut in half. This also accounts for the difficulty in obtaining the crimps as well as the tool. Now I have in the past tried at least four different brands/types of crimpers specified for these plugs and all were difficult to use involving much waste in crimps every time to say nothing of costs and frustration.
Just cut the new servos lead in half and Shorten as needed then resolder is a far simpler technique and safer as the crimping involves a skill set that can easily be poorly done making the crimp easy to pull out. The majority of cases involves lengthening the leads and adding wire.
Grosbeck that is a very handy tool you have devised there indeed. The technique I use for simple wire splices is to use a wooden furniture clamp to hold each side one at a time to tin the leads. Then for final soldering to hold each side then just lay the opposites sides tinned lead aginst that one with one hand and a touch of the iron in the other untill the solder flows. Do not try to twist the leads together.
John
John, glad you like the tool. I use a method similar to yours. I tin each wire first, then put them in the clamping tool with the wires touching. A touch of the iron until they flow together, and you're good to go. Each individual wire get sheathed in a heat shrink tube, then all of the wires get sheathed together with a bigger tube.
I'm done with crimping. If I need a shorter wire I'll cut and splice or fold and tie. If I need a longer one I'll find an extension, cut and splice.
Incidentally, I bought a Trakpower soldering station a few months ago and I love the thing.
03-20-2013, 12:28 PM
#12
RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
ORIGINAL: Square Nozzle
It seems rather foolish to me to cut a section out of a servo lead and solder it back together .... I suggest that you cut off the connector, cut the wire back to the required length and install a new connector.
ORIGINAL: handyman
if the ext wires are to long can they or would you cut the wire on the ext wire........need to remove 1ft or so........thanks
if the ext wires are to long can they or would you cut the wire on the ext wire........need to remove 1ft or so........thanks
03-20-2013, 07:17 PM
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RE: wire cutting on servos ext wire
Been doing it as far back as I can remember quite successfully.
Sorry, John. I couldn't stop myself.
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