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Subject:Re: How to deal with short ALT cable
From:Raymond Paquette
Date:Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:35:01 -0400

Lots of recommendations for soldering, and from smarter people than me.

But, when I solder stranded wire on a car, my connection often breaks
off (after a time).

The wire is flexible, with strands that move independently from each
other, so there's no one spot that takes all the flex.. The solder
creates a solid mass with one flex point where the solder ends.

FWIW, and not diminishing my overall awe at the wisdom of the collective.

Raymond

John Rodgers wrote:
>  The terminal end (loop type)of my alternator cable broke and I find
> that after removing the broken end, the cable is to short to reach the
> alternator connection post or bolt. Apparently at some time n the past,
> this fix had been done before by the PO, taking off a bit of cable in
> the process. Now with another fix necessary, the cable is just a
> fraction short - but for the life of me, I can't get any more slack out
> of the cable to make new fittings work. It's never a good idea to have a
> power cable of any sort stretched to the max - they need some slack to
> accommodate vibration. Short of having to R&R that heavy wire - anyone
> have any suggestions as to how to deal with this.?
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>