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Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: MilderER on October 07, 2022, 03:30:34 AM

Title: Burnt Insulation
Post by: MilderER on October 07, 2022, 03:30:34 AM

Hi again. Just as I was wrapping up last night's assembly session, I noticed that at some point--probably when attempting some desoldering and perhaps because I'd been soldering at a higher temp than usual (730F)--I'd inadvertently burned some insulation on the wire connecting A5 and 1L (see photos). Is there a way to test to see if the wire is still good? Is this something a bit of electrical tape can fix (fingers crossed), or do I need to somehow replace the wire? If the latter, all tips and advice are welcome; this would be my first time removing a soldered wire.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Title: Re: Burnt Insulation
Post by: Karl5150 on October 07, 2022, 03:54:29 AM

It doesn't look terminal (pun?) to me. Check for continuity with DMM, probes on the terminals at either end. I'm not a fan of electrical tape personally, I think there are wraps that are used with a heat-gun. I know I've done the same thing more than once.
Karl

Title: Re: Burnt Insulation
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 07, 2022, 04:54:28 AM

You won't melt the wire with a meter, so I wouldn't worry too much about that unless you can see the wire through the burn spot and it is in danger of touching something else.

Title: Re: Burnt Insulation
Post by: MilderER on October 07, 2022, 07:29:01 AM

Thanks so much, Paul and Karl! I tested continuity and the wire passed--assuming "passed" means I heard a beep when I set the DMM to continuity and touched the test leads to the terminals.

Karl, does using electrical tape pose a functional problem or is it more that it gets in the way?

Paul, fortunately, I can't see the wire through the burn spot, just a patch of unsightly burnt insulation. From the photo of the final build in the manual, it looks like this wire is not at risk of contacting any other wires or components. Would you say I'm okay to move forward with the kit?

Title: Re: Burnt Insulation
Post by: Mucker on October 07, 2022, 07:58:11 AM

It's a short piece that could be easily replaced if it is bothering you. I usually keep a bottle of liquid tape around to repair exposed wiring that is not easily fixable / accessible with heat shrink.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-LTR-400-Electrical-Applications/dp/B000M5PM0G/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1FNK4BQMSILP9&keywords=liquid%2Btape&qid=1665165272&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjM3IiwicXNhIjoiMi41MCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=liquid%2Btape%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExOEhFSzkwM1o2UU44JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODczODc4M1VIU0NKWEZRNjZaWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjQ1NjMzMkxMVkFKU1VJOTdJVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

Title: Re: Burnt Insulation
Post by: MilderER on October 07, 2022, 02:35:34 PM

Thanks, I would have never thought of that. Will get my hands on some. There's something about the sight of that burn mark...