buffalobill989

iTrader: (50)

what soldering iron do u guys use to build batts? ive got a weller thats pretty good but its starting to lose some of the temp. im looking for one that gets the item hot quick. are the 936 very good at building batteries? thanks for the help

Ashley Cobb

iTrader: (28)

I use an 80w "random electrician style" soldering iron.

You need a hammerhead solder bit to do stick packs or just the standard chisel bit for ladder packs

buffalobill989

iTrader: (50)

i thought my weller said 100w but i thought that was wrong. ive seen people say the 9336 are 50w is that enough?

Desolas

iTrader: (2)

I use this iron which is 40W/900 degrees, 1/4" chisel tip, and it's inexpensive. I have one just for soldering batteries, this thing works awesome.

VooDooPH

iTrader: (18)

Newstar 100W iron...

SlowerOne

Choose by the tip size as much (if not more) than the wattage. For example, the Weller Soldering Gun is 120w, but the tip is so small that as soon as it touches a cell all the heat is pulled away. The Weller suggested by Desolas has a lower wattage but a large tip.

The trick with cells is to have a lot of heat stored in the (large) tip so that when you put it on the cell, it heats the joint and doesn't just drain away. Also, using a paste flux (NOT a liquid, acid flux) ensures that the solder flows fast and all across the joint - another way to minimise the time the tip needs to spend on the cell.

Weller make some great irons for the job, of which this one is the pick of the bunch. It is designed for stained glass leads, which suck out heat like a hungry tiger! HTH

AHR43

I use the Hakko 936 and will recommend it. Mine has a 5mm tip on it for building battery packs. I've built 6, 8, and 10cell side-by-side battery packs no problemo. I set it at 850deg F, below its max of 896deg F.

FWIW-I use RS #64-015E High-Tech Rosin-Core Solder instead of silver solder. It flows at a lower temp and dosen't dirty up the tip as much. The RS #64-022 Non-Spill Paste Rosin Soldering Flux and RS 64-020D Tip Tinner and Cleaner work well too. BTW-wet your soldering sponges with distilled water-it has less contaminates and wipes the tip better than tap water.

Hope this helps.

Arnie

Big B

iTrader: (4)

I use this one http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bi...i?query=wesd51 it has a digital temp readout, but there is a little bit cheaper version pictured right below it http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bi...gi?query=wes51, I have used a couple different soldering irons and this is by far the best I have used for battery building. If you get one of these you will need the ETD tip wich is the lage chisel style, works best for battery building.

buffalobill989

iTrader: (50)

thanks for all the help. i got a weller 80w 900deg fro 28
so we shall see how well it works out for me

wallyedmonds

100W iron
and just a little solder.
and a heatsink on the bar when soldering.