Daniele Verducci 🧉3d ago
Reparing the Fabula. The speaker and battery cables were broken at the soldering point. No idea why. Also, it isn't the first time it happens. They are common Dupont cables cut and soldered (because I need the connector on the other end). They shouldn't be subject to mechanic stress, it seems more like a chimical/oxidation problem... but I have no clue at all...

#electronics #repair #workbench #lab #soldering #opensourcehardware
Show threadBob Beaker3d ago

@penguin86 At the risk of teaching grandma...

You are aware that flux used in soldering, whether applied separately or as part of the solder medium is an acid? It's an essential part of the soldering process but should be removed after soldering. Any residual flux will slowly eat away at the joint especially around any imperfections.

I use IPA and a stiff brush to remove flux residue.

No clean fluxes are available but not usually at the DIY level.

Show threadDaniele Verducci 🧉
@bbeaker good point! I use a lot of flux, and usually clean the residues with IPA, expecially when I solder to a PCB. I may have not done the same with these joints... but I didn't change anything in the way I work (even still using same solder and flux) and this didn't happen in the past. Maybe this cables are just too thin...
May 14 at 5:43amWeb
Show threadBob Beaker3d ago
@penguin86 The other thing that just sprung to mind if the wires are of unknown origin. Copper covered aluminium?
Show threadDaniele Verducci 🧉3d ago
@bbeaker oh, that's probable. They appear copper-colored, but the price was low, so they may very well be aluminium...