On 11/7/2012 3:05 PM, David Beierl wrote:
> I am concerned
> about it in a high-vibration environment like a car, but I'm more
> concerned with the hard spot that the solder leaves when it wicks up
> into the strands.  For these reasons I personally am leery of solder
> joints under these conditions, ...   It must be stressed of
> course that a cheap crimp connector is useless, and insufficient
> crimping force likewise.

A good, gas-tight crimp has been proven to be better than solder. But
you really need a good ratcheting crimp tool with the proper dies to
achieve one, especially with those insulated crimp connectors. The
common, pliers-like ones, with the half round recesses don't work well,
if at all. And those are what people who don't often have a need to
crimp usually end up working with. I'd trust solder before a crimp made
with one of those.

Crimp or solder, relief is necessary, as both create a natural flexure
point where the wire can fatigue. Electrical tape should be enough,
unless the wire is subject to repeated bending (more than simple vibration).