What do you exactly call those tiny black plastic caps that you slide into decoders that look like Digitrax DH165AO. I need several of those. Where can I purchase them?
Atlas calls them wire retainers and the part number is: 850125
Their called junk! do yourself a favor and throw everyone you have in the garbage and solder all your connections. Poor connections are the result of more decoder problems then you would believe.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Their called junk! do yourself a favor and throw everyone you have in the garbage and solder all your connections. Poor connections are the result of more decoder problems then you would believe.
When I first read mfm37's reply with the name of the little plastic holder and the part number, I thought 'nuff said', you had the part number, so let's move on. Then, I read allegheny's reply and decided to add my unsolicited two cents as well.
A few years back when I started installing my own decoders, I thought that those little plastic wire retainers were the greatest invention since sliced bread, but I soon learned differently. For one thing, they do not provide good contact after a period of time in use (don't ask me how I know). Also, once you remove one, it will never again hold firmly (again, don't ask me how I know).
Are they "junk"? Maybe. Should you consider solder as an alternative? Definitely.
I have owned a soldering gun for many years and, from time to time, have taken on soldering projects. But, for me, even the thought of soldering wiring connections on decoders was out of the question. For one thing, how do you ever remove the solder, if necessary? And, more importantly, how do you ever clear the hole to reinsert the wire and resolder it?
Here is the solution: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744
It is called desoldering braid, and it works miracles. It will remove every trace of solder and permit even an amateur like me seem like a pro.
Send me a SASE and I will send you a bunch of the little plastic wire retainers that I have kept for no good reason after removing them from my decoders. But, my advice is to consider soldering as an alternative. The results are much more rewarding.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainI have owned a soldering gun for many years and, from time to time, have taken on soldering projects. But, for me, even the thought of soldering wiring connections on decoders was out of the question. For one thing, how do you ever remove the solder, if necessary? And, more importantly, how do you ever clear the hole to reinsert the wire and resolder it? Here is the solution: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744 It is called desoldering braid, and it works miracles. It will remove every trace of solder and permit even an amateur like me seem like a pro.
Feh. Solder braid is for wimps... here's what you *really* need:
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SSR-1/SOLDER-SUCKER/-/1.html
A solder-sucker will make short work of lifting wires, chips, etc-- got a solder joint you want to disappear?? Simple, just heat it up and --schwtttthk!-- its all gone.
Actually solder-braid is quite useful for doing the stuff a solder-sucker can't. But for $4.50 and it lasts practically forever, you can't go wrong, and it works on 99% of whatever you need to unsolder-- quickly, easily, no fuss, no muss.
EDIT: BTW, if you do get a solder-sucker, a piece of advice-- regardless of where you buy it-- make sure you get one like in the picture above. They make smaller "pencil" style solder-suckers that aren't worth a hoot. They're small, they fit in your pocket, they're worthless. One other thing about solder-suckers-- if you get one and use it, eventually it will "stop working"-- that means its "full". Pop the tip off, shake it out (over the trash can) and push the tip back on, and you're back in business.
John
jwhitten richhotrain I have owned a soldering gun for many years and, from time to time, have taken on soldering projects. But, for me, even the thought of soldering wiring connections on decoders was out of the question. For one thing, how do you ever remove the solder, if necessary? And, more importantly, how do you ever clear the hole to reinsert the wire and resolder it? Here is the solution: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744 It is called desoldering braid, and it works miracles. It will remove every trace of solder and permit even an amateur like me seem like a pro. Feh. Solder braid is for wimps... here's what you *really* need: http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SSR-1/SOLDER-SUCKER/-/1.html A solder-sucker will make short work of lifting wires, chips, etc-- got a solder joint you want to disappear?? Simple, just heat it up and --schwtttthk!-- its all gone. Actually solder-braid is quite useful for doing the stuff a solder-sucker can't. But for $4.50 and it lasts practically forever, you can't go wrong, and it works on 99% of whatever you need to unsolder-- quickly, easily, no fuss, no muss. EDIT: BTW, if you do get a solder-sucker, a piece of advice-- regardless of where you buy it-- make sure you get one like in the picture above. They make smaller "pencil" style solder-suckers that aren't worth a hoot. They're small, they fit in your pocket, they're worthless. One other thing about solder-suckers-- if you get one and use it, eventually it will "stop working"-- that means its "full". Pop the tip off, shake it out (over the trash can) and push the tip back on, and you're back in business. John
richhotrain I have owned a soldering gun for many years and, from time to time, have taken on soldering projects. But, for me, even the thought of soldering wiring connections on decoders was out of the question. For one thing, how do you ever remove the solder, if necessary? And, more importantly, how do you ever clear the hole to reinsert the wire and resolder it? Here is the solution: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744 It is called desoldering braid, and it works miracles. It will remove every trace of solder and permit even an amateur like me seem like a pro.
John,
Thanks, I am sold. That thing looks pretty cool. I shall pick one up.
The Wimp
For the tiny contact strips on decoders, Radio Shack has a solder sucker that is a nylon tip with a red rubber squeeze ball on top. It works very well for small projects.
"I have owned a soldering gun for many years and, from time to time, have taken on soldering projects. But, for me, even the thought of soldering wiring connections on decoders was out of the question. For one thing, how do you ever remove the solder, if necessary? And, more importantly, how do you ever clear the hole to reinsert the wire and resolder it?"
To answer your question first no need to clear the little hole at the soldering point. If you notice on the tab you will see a small piece of what looks like solder, that because it is solder. The easy way to connect wires to decoders is called "Tinning" this brings me to the other part. If you are referring to one of the pistol grip or type soldering guns pu it back in the garage or tool box. Ok for big jobs not for tiny little model trains.You want a soldering iron or pen type soldering tool. more common for precision soldering such as your decoders.
What you need to do is the obvious using a micro brush apply a small amount of flux to the wires to be connected to the decoder after doing that take the soldering iron/pen (No less then 60 watts the more watts the less time you will need to hold the pen in place) and heat the end of the wire and just touch the solder to the hot wire and it will put a nice shiny tip of solder onto the end of the wire. after you've completed this on all the wires you now hold the wire to intended terminal and just touch them with the hot tip of the iron.by having solder on both the wire and the connection tab it only take a few seconds to get the solder hot enough to melt together. (if by chance the tabs are not pre tinned just tin them by doing exactly the same as you just did on the wires)
This is a very common practice when doing more precision type soldering of small wires etc. Trust me this sounds a lot harder then it really is. I suggest practicing with some scrap wires etc.(Hey actually a new use for junk MRC sound decoders but thats another topic)
Two tools that help me and my fat fingers immensely when doing this kind of work is a lighted magnifying glass and a good pair of spring loaded tweezers to hold the wire in place while soldering.
Yes you can use a solder sucker or soldering braid etc. to clear out the hole but you don't really need to make that type of connection there is nothing wrong with doing it that way it's just another step that generally isn't needed.
Oh I almost forgot those things are junk