Soldering Help Needed

[SusanJoM]

I need to solder one of the wires of my BT T/C into it's terminal in the Phidget.

Can anyone splain to me how to do this?  What kind of solder and what kind of iron I need for the job?

Thanks.  Remember to be insultingly clear....this is not an area in which I have any base knowledge at all.

[beananimal]

Hello Susan, are you really sure you need to solder ??
With my also limited knowledge on this, it should be  little screws vor the TCs.
Which Phidget ist it?
Peter

[Chert]

I think this guide has some useful information:

https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/Soldering_Action-01.jpg

[SusanJoM]

Thanks Chert, I'll check it out.

Hello Susan, are you really sure you need to solder ??
With my also limited knowledge on this, it should be  little screws vor the TCs.
Which Phidget ist it?
Peter

It's the Phidget 1048, and yes I am sure.
The little screw scarpered off while the Phidget was on a job elsewhere.
My first plan was to remove an unnecessary screw and use it where I needed it, but the screws won't screw all the way out.
My second plan was to re-configure Artisan to go to #3 of the Phidget to find BT, but since I have two HUKYs using Artisan, that would have meant re-wiring both Phidgets and that ....anyway I have now settled on soldering as the best way to go.  And hey, I'll have to learn how to solder :-))))

[Mayowarlord]

I have two HUKYs

Interesting! why is that ?

[SusanJoM]

I'm greedy 

I have had a perforated/slow configuration since forever.  I wanted to play with the solid/fast configuration without giving up access to the perf.

[beananimal]

Hallo Susan,
It might be  difficult to get the heat into that "big clamp" to solder in.
An intermediate  Plan C could be to use a 180° bend at the end of the wire to ensure contact by side pressure in the clamp.
This would need some external fixing, maybe by adhesive tape.

[omfgkaleidoscope]

I'm not an expert on soldering or thermocouples, but I believe the type of solder you choose, while always important, is especially important when it comes to thermocouples. Because they work by measuring the change in voltage as the entire thermocouple wire expands and contracts, your choice of solder metals (and the act of soldering the wire itself) might be enough to change the system's electrical properties in such a way as to affect your temperature readings. Might be nothing to worry about, but it's worth mentioning.

[SusanJoM]

I believe the type of solder you choose, while always important, is especially important when it comes to thermocouples.

That's exactly what I was wondering.  I guess I should be looking up specifically what I need for soldering a "K thermocouple" since it must have different metals than a "J"  or an "L".....

Thanks

[hankua]

Is there another way to attach the wire?
What exactly happened to the terminal block?

[SusanJoM]

Is there another way to attach the wire?
What exactly happened to the terminal block?

I've had a couple of conversations with Brian Burley at Phidgets, and soldering seems to be the least onerous way of fixing it. 

I have no idea how the screw which you cannot take out if you want to got out....life is a mystery....

[Chert]

I can answer

I had the Phidget and was attaching leads.  That one would not hold.  And I saw that the little screw was not in the threads.  I suppose I had backed it out too far.  Best I could tell anyway. the terminal block is soldered through hole.  With a little clip stand, a person could hold the phidget in one clip, the lead against the terminal through hole post, heat with solder tip, and apply the bead of solder necessary to keep the lead attached.

But how to fix that darn screw, without removing the terminal block: Also a good ?

[SusanJoM]

According to Brian it can't be done.  You have to de-solder one of the four small blocks, each of which has two screws and replace it.  A replacement costs about $1.00, but I think it's riskier than just soldering the BT wire into place.

[omfgkaleidoscope]

Well then I guess the real question here is, what's the worst that can happen? Might end up with a new Phidget if things go apocalyptic. In the mean time, you get some experience with soldering.

[SusanJoM]

And, being a belt and suspenders kinda girl, I have another Phidget so I won't be out of the roasting game in the meantime.

Thanks for the support.