Wires/Soldering
Introduction
We started learning about wiring and different types of splices along with a new tool we are going to learn how to use, called the "solder iron". We learned about many things such as different splicing techniques like "western union splice".
Wires
Wiring was the first thing we learned through starting this new unit. A wire contains a plastic coating and the actual wire inside. The plastic coating is used for protecting the wire from breaking and other liquids harming it. We learned how to take apart the plastic to expore the wire so that we can perform connecting wires to each other. Without exposing the wire itself, its not possible to wrap a wire with another as the plastic would be blocking it.
Connecting Wires
At first connecting wires were tricky, but the more practice you do the more easier it is. Its importat to wrap the wire closely without leaving any gaps so that the solder wouldn't build up there and make a huge bump. It's also important to be gentle as while bending the actual wire it can be weakened and possible break which has happened to me many times.
Soldering
At last the fun part, This was my first time soldering so it was a very interesting experience for me. Its important to check the solder if there is anything broken as safety comes first. Clearing the area of any flammable objects as well. Always tin the tip before and after use for the next person to prevent the soldering from being unusable. Soldering was very fun and I found a very good trick which is keeping the iron below and the solder on top making it much easier to solder my wires. The more I practiced, the better my soldering became. The main issue I had was putting the solder tip on top and the solder at the bottom. Doing so made it harder for me to see the amount of solder I am putting onto the wire. After watching this video I was able to see how putting the tip at the bottom and the solder on top helps control the amount heat, and solder you apply to perform good precision and less burns onto your wire :) .
Conclusion/Final Thoughts
Wiring and soldering is very fun and I can really do this for the rest of my life as a job and won't be tired of it. I find it really facisnation and it's a really nice experience for someone to have. But it's very important for following safety when using this tool as it's very dangerous when held in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it.