does anyone know if propoxy could be used in sticking wire into a nmra 8 pin plug instead of solder to hold the wire in place. due to the fact that they small to solder.this is a metal type epoxy.
Propoxy is a prescription drug. Are you sure you have the right term?
I've never heard of an electrically conductive metal epoxy. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, just that I have never heard of it.
To solder into a small tube type pin like in a connector, tin the wire and put a small piece of solder into the tube ahead of the wire. then heat the pin and insert the wire into the hot pin and remove the heat.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
If you are melting insulation you are either using too much heat, or keeping the heat on it too long.
Don't "fill" the pin. Put a small piece of solder in it. Remember the wire will displace the melted solder when it is inserted. Tin the wire first (coat it with melted solder). Heat the pin with the solder in it. Hold the wire with a small set of needle nose plyers as close to the pin as possible. That will provide a heatsink that will help to protect the wire from the heat. Then insert the wire and immediately remove the heat. DO NOT hold the pin with plyers. The plyers will prevent it from heating evenly.
If you want to know if the epoxy works, use a spare plug and a piece of scrap wire and try it. Then test the conductivity with a multimeter.
Third option. Buy a harness with the plug already factory installed. They aren't all that expensive.
mmartian22 wrote: does anyone know if propoxy could be used in sticking wire into a nmra 8 pin plug instead of solder to hold the wire in place. due to the fact that they small to solder.this is a metal type epoxy.
What it sounds like you're talking about is a metal filled epoxy. This is somewhat conductive, but not as good as a solder joint, which, as I understand, is NOT good for any DCC connections.
When soldering these type conncetors, I've found a small chisel tip to work the best. Strip just enough wire to insert into the solder cup on the pin, dip the end of the wire in solder flux, getting a very little flux on the wire, then insert the wire into the cup. Touch the solder to the iron tip to get a small bubble of solder on it (this will help heat conduction), touch the iron (actually the solder bubble on the end of the tip) to the outside of the solder cup, and touch the solder to the joint of the wire and solder cup. As soon as you get solder into the joint, pull the iron and solder away. This should only take a second or two of heat applied to the joint.
One other problem many people have is holding the plug while soldering the wires to it. I recommend a hobby vise like a Panavise or B&D Hobbycrafter. Holding the plug rigidly while soldering the wires to it will make this part of the job much easier.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
You could also take it to someone that is used to fine soldering, like a Radio shack or even a Jeweler. Or, some of us may have plugs that were cut off a decoder to solder in directly. I can PM you if I have one with long enough tails to just splice on to.
-Bill