"Lynn Coffelt" wrote in
:

2. Sometimes I twist the strands togather and flow just a very
small
bit of solder into the last 1/4 inch (or less if quick on the
trigger). I know the old wives tales about solder cold flow loosening
the connection after time, and the solder creating a stress riser that
breaks strands with vibration. It seems to me, and with lots of
"miles" and hundreds of installations, nobody except the "Pros" have
complained.



Unfortunately, the combo of copper wire shorted to lead/zinc solder forms
a GREAT little battery that eats the copper right where the solder ends
going up the wire. The salt air is really hard on it, even if there's no
spray. Electrolysis happens.

Europeans, possibly the British, are the reason for those little wire
blocks with the clamps on them. I don't think they are a bad thing. All
Lionheart's tiepoints in the whole NMEA system use them at the various
"stations" (helm, nav, main data point where the multiplexer and power
come from). None have ever come loose from either stranded or solid
wires. None ever turned green, like the USA screw blocks with crimped-on
ring terminals do. They seem to stay nice and tight, to me.

Larry