Flymo

[misterboumsong]

My cable has went this morning on my flymo. On opening the switch unit I noticed the break that caused the issue. I plan to reuse the cable agter cutting back but my question is what's the name of the the small clips at the end of the cable and are they easily obtainable and finally really needed for wiring back into the switch unit

 

[ericmark]

Ferrules, I got a kit from Lidi, I would fit them backwards and cut off the plastic insulation. May be cheaper to just tin the wires with a soldering iron.

 

[Rodders53]

Ferrules but probably not essential in the repair.

Soldering flex wires in screw terminals is deprecated. Don't!

 

[misterboumsong]

Thank you all I'll. Probably strip the the cable back and try without ferrules

 

[JohnW2]

Thank you all I'll. Probably strip the the cable back and try without ferrules

If you do it 'properly', that will work fine.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

May be cheaper to just tin the wires with a soldering iron.

That is bad advice, the solder will creep under the screws pressure, potentially causing a poor, overheated connection.

 

[JohnW2]

That is bad advice, the solder will creep under the screws pressure, potentially causing a poor, overheated connection.

I say the same to everyone these days but I have to say that in the distant past I always did it (as I had been taught to), and I was never aware of any consequent problems, despite the theoretical 'risk' you mention. I have to wonder whether sold is much (if any) more likley bto 'creep' than copper?

I wonder what those who give that advice are meant to say about conductors which come 'tinned' - should they be advised to scrape the tin off before putting the conductor into a screwed terminal?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I say the same to everyone these days but I have to say that in the distant past I always did it (as I had been taught to), and I was never aware of any consequent problems, despite the theoretical 'risk' you mention.

There is nowt theoretical about it, I have personally suffered examples of the problem. Why do you suppose manufacturers moved away from tinned ends, to furrels, when tinned was quicker, cheaper?

Soldering works fine, except when the solder is connection is via a mechanical compression, when the solder can migrate due to the pressure. The end result, is then a poor connection between the wire and the terminal.

 

[JohnW2]

There is nowt theoretical about it,....

I suppose it's essentially semantic, depending on one's interpretation of "theoretically". Maybe you would nlt have 'taken me to task' had I instead written "theory-based" (which I personally often talk of as 'theoretical')?

There is no doubt that the phenomenon we are talking about is (by way of an 'explanation') 'based on theory', and that remains true even if the phenomenon is experienced/observed in the real world.

I have personally suffered examples of the problem.

As I said, I personally have not so suffered, which I suppose is one of the reasons I referred to 'theory'

Why do you suppose manufacturers moved away from tinned ends, to furrels, when tinned was quicker, cheaper?

Presumably because, like you, (and rightly/wrongly) they felt that the phenomenon in question was a significant issue.

Soldering works fine, except when the solder is connection is via a mechanical compression, when the solder can migrate due to the pressure.

In theory it can, and in practice it undoubtedly does to some extent. However, the same is true, at least to some extent, with copper (particularly if subjected to 'thermal cycling') - so, as I said, I am not necessarily convinced that there is necessarily all that much difference between solder/tin and copper.

 

[blup]

For that short length of cable just cut back beyond the damaged part and re terminate. Don’t use ferrules.

 

[ericmark]

I have not tried putting wires in the flymo switch when not held together with a ferrule. If it can be physically done, then no problem.

 

[JohnW2]

I have not tried putting wires in the flymo switch when not held together with a ferrule. If it can be physically done, then no problem.

We haven't been told whether they are push-in (spring-loaded) or screwed terminals. If spring-loaded, then it could be difficult/impossible to get a stranded conductor in but it would probably be more likely to work if one first soldered the end - and, if one could do that, and if the terminal was spring-loaded, I imagine that Harry's concern about the solder would probably go away?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

In theory it can, and in practice it undoubtedly does to some extent. However, the same is true, at least to some extent, with copper (particularly if subjected to 'thermal cycling') - so, as I said, I am not necessarily convinced that there is necessarily all that much difference between solder/tin and copper.

Lead, is much more 'fluid', than copper, or brass, both of which are much more resilient to deformation.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

and, if one could do that, and if the terminal was spring-loaded, I imagine that Harry's concern about the solder would probably go away?

To a large extent, yes! The spring pressure, would take up any slack, from the lead deformation, whereas a screw terminal would simply remain lose, until someone came along and tightened it.