Crimp or solder?

[Frederick Smith]

Just a bit more info to add to the thread. Aircraft wiring is almost 100%
solderless connectors today. Pins, male and female are crimped on the 
conductors and inserted in the mating connectors. Ground lugs and bonding 
lugs are crimped.

Splices, even those in coaxial cable, are crimp spliced. Properly
spliced connectors are actually crimped in two places. Once adjacent to 
the center around the conductor and once near the wire opening in the end
of the connector. The second crimp is for strain relief and keeps the
pressure from being born by the crimp on the conductor. AMP Corp. spec.
solderless connectors are of the "PIDG" series, which equals "Pre insulated
Diamond Grip". The same tool makes both crimps at the same time.

The tools are sent to a QC shop periodically to test that the tool doesn't
over crimp (break any strands) as well as test for "pull out" (how much
direct line force is required to pull the wire from the connector).

The only connectors that are still soldered are those that are "potted",
(pins sealed in a liquid rubber/silicone compound) after the wires are
soldered "into" the pins and engine firewall connectors. The firewall
connector pins are soldered, sleeve insulated, tied in a neat bundle, 
flat fiberglass tape wrapped and then the tailpiece of the connector is 
screwed in place. Then the strain relief clamp screws are tightened.
"Suspenders and a belt syndrome"????? I don't know but you CAN walk home
after your CAR craps out on the side of the road.

Smitty