Best way to join wires ?

[dormermike]

Hello

I've successfully bypassed my oven timer and now need to safely join 3 wires together. Every YouTube vid I've seen shows insulation tape being used.

I was thinking of soldering and heat shrink.

Any better solutions ? Am concerned about heat as it's in the top of the oven.

Thanks

 

[ETAF]

i would say if you can solder & heatshrink may be the better option , but is that easy for you to do

 

[EFLImpudence]

Not just insulation tape, surely - as in just stuck together?

Any method that can withstand the heat is acceptable.

Aren't most of the joints in the oven spade connectors?

 

[dormermike]

Yes spade connectors to components which are fixed to the oven chassis. These 3 wires can be connected via spade connectors but how to insulate the connectors as the "connection" will be floating and not fixed to the chassis.

Wago are 100c max.

Unsure what the max continuous temp for heat shrink (after it's shrunk!) Is - anyone know?

Oven gets to 220c

Am asking what I can use to connect the 3 safely. I was thinking soldering and ceramic connector but can't find a small one. I don't think the wires carry much load, they are from the relays and suspect they trigger a larger relay for the heating element.

Thanks

 

[robinbanks]

Oven gets to 220c

Not on the part where the wiring is, I hope

(An oven is an insulated box with a heater inside and controls outside. No way it would survive if the whole unit reached the same temp as the cooking compartment)

 

[dormermike]

Yeh I suspect I'm overthinking it to some degree and agree the section with components won't get to 220c but I'm not comfortable using insulation tape either.

 

[Fred Blogs]

The adhesive used on insulation tape will go soft and the tape will unwind even with moderate heat. I would solder and use heat shrink.

 

[SFK]

If you cannot solder and use heat shrink how about inline but connectors

Insulated Red 0.5-1.5mm² Crimp Butt 100 Pack - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. High quality copper. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Wire cross sectional area defines the colour you should use. Always best to use a real crimping tool.

 

[dormermike]

Thanks for all the help

I found in BandQ some wago style connectors (max 105c) and also these solder shrink wrap tubes so I tried the latter. Not convinced there was enough solder but it seems solid enough. Only issue is the steel wire was quite sharp and in danger of poking through the shrink wrap.

 

[dormermike]

No easy way to test electrically how good the connection is. Mechanically it's very strong.

Unsure whether to snip it off and just use the push fit connectors after all lol

 

[ericmark]

Solder can creep, if the joint is mechanically sound then solder added to ensure not electrical bad connection great, but getting solder to form an alloy and connect correctly is not quite as easy as it seems. And with non lead solder the flux is really nasty stuff, the solder may be safe, but not the flux so some way to ensure you don't breath in fumes.

The crimp needs to grip the wire well, which means expensive crimp pliers, although just looked and have gone down in price so can get £15 versions for insulated crimps.

Temperature depends on where on the oven and it seems likely not that hot where you are working.

Mechanical strength is also important, epoxy lined shrink sleeve can both insulate and give mechanical strength, some crimps also either crimp the wire with the plastic or can use shrink sleeve built in, it depends on type used, but also the crimp needs to match the pliers, all red crimps are not the same.

The maintenance free push connector can do a good job, but getting shrink sleeve over them is unlikely to work, and it depends if there is likely to be any movement.

You say three wires, so not sure if you can crimp or not.

 

[Adam_151]

You can still get ceramic/porcelin connector blocks for high termperature applications. I wouldn't have tjough B&Q would carry them though, readily available online though and decent wholesalers should stock them

 

[dormermike]

Thanks. I went with the solder/shrink thing above in the end. Unless anyone thinks that looks terrible? I haven't used them before.

 

[FrodoOne]

It is now too late but you could use something from this range ( https://cpc.farnell.com/c/cable-lea...al-blocks-accessories/ceramic-terminal-blocks ),which provide both electrical and thermal insulation.

 

[robinbanks]

Scrwfix sell those:

Hylec 32A 2-Pole Terminal Block 5 Pack - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Steatite ceramic construction with nickel-plated brass inserts and zinc-plated steel screws. Double pole, high temperature terminal blocks, ideal for use where connections are required around heating equipment. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1...

www.screwfix.com

I went with the solder/shrink thing above in the end

I think it will be fine. Does the oven work? Then run with that and if it fails again go for another strategy