How to Solder Wire to Tab
In this article, we are going to take a look at how to solder wire to Traxxas high-current tabs. Let’s begin by making sure we have the proper items for the task. We need the wire we are soldering, high-current tabs, a piece of fuel tubing (you’ll see why), and a good soldering iron. We also recommend a small stand with alligator clips to provide a "third hand."
(1) Insert one of the gold tabs into the fuel tubing as shown.
(2) Slide the tubing to the line that runs across the tab just before the words “wire side”.
(3) With your iron hot, touch the opposite side of the tab. This will heat the tab. Take some solder and pool the solder on the wire side of the tab.
(4) Use your soldering iron’s stand to hold the iron while you hold the tubing and solder (or let the “third hand” hold the tubing while you do this).
(5) Take your tinned wire end and set it on top of the solder on the tab. Using your iron, touch the opposite side of the tab to heat the solder.
(Shown using third hand, soldering iron stand optional)
When the solder on the tab heats up it will cause the end of the wire to heat up and fuse to the tab.
(Shown using third hand, soldering iron stand optional)
(6) Let the tab and wire cool. Then, slide the tubing off the tab, and you’re done.
We mentioned a "tinned wire" in this How-To, and here’s how to tin a wire:
(1) Strip a small section at the end of the wire that you are going to use.
(2) Using a clean soldering iron, heat the wire. This won’t take long.
(3) Then feed some solder onto the wire.
(4) Let the wire cool. You have successfully tinned the wire.
