MarkJohnson Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Morning gents! Based on a lot of background reading I did on this forum, a Texecom Premier Elite was fitted about 6 months ago and a great alarm it is too! Problem I have now is that when cutting off some cornice at the top of the ceiling, we completely forgot that the telephone and alarm cable was run through there. As such, we cut through the damn thing. I'd like to patch this up as it leads to a key patio door sensor. The bigger issue is that the cable is crappy CCA (copper clad alu) as opposed to quality cable. Don't ask how or why that was used. So I guess question is how do I connect this crappy cable back up again? Can't solder it. I can only think of something like this (a pack of ten is a couple quid and they are tiny): https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WA415.html Also, as the system is 'live' and I don't wish to short anything, how would I power it down temporarily? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) Just to clear up on the above, my choices (unless you guys have a better suggestion) at the moment to fix this mess are: (1)Lever splicing connector: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WA415.html (2) Some crimps: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cable_Accessories_Index/Crimp_Lugs_and_Tools/index.html (3) A small, 2a connector strip (two-way): https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLCON2.html Edited January 15, 2018 by MarkJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Due to the location I would go with crimps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Due to location and space I would go with solder and any type of wrapping , not gift wrap though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks for the replies folks. With regards to solder, I don't think it would work, primarily because it's basically aluminium cable (CCA) and also it is 2.4m up, so a bit awkward to solder on a ladder. But the CCA issue here is the real problem, otherwise I'd have soldered the damn thing already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Use the cable as a fish and rewire would be my first consideration. CCA will solder with the right temperature and solder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 3 hours ago, MarkJohnson said: Thanks for the replies folks. With regards to solder, I don't think it would work, primarily because it's basically aluminium cable (CCA) and also it is 2.4m up, so a bit awkward to solder on a ladder. But the CCA issue here is the real problem, otherwise I'd have soldered the damn thing already. You making this all up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Id solder and heat shrink. Melting temp of ali is quite high compared to a soldering iron. Its not copper pipe you dont need a blow torch Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 8 minutes ago, james.wilson said: Its not copper pipe you dont need a blow torch Never stopped JBE Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 doubt a lighter would melt it before it soldered Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 6 hours ago, al-yeti said: Due to location and space I would go with solder and any type of wrapping , not gift wrap though ? Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJames Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 2 hours ago, james.wilson said: Id solder and heat shrink. Melting temp of ali is quite high compared to a soldering iron. Its not copper pipe you dont need a blow torch QFA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dufjax Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 I wouldn't use wago levers! They're designed for mains rated cables and I'm pretty sure would chewup CCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Thanks for everyone's input - are we thinking that a regular soldering iron will be able to solder the joint OK? I didn't think it would work. I do have a blow torch for plumbing duty but that is probably not right in this application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 A regular soldering iron will be fine, if you are unsure have a practice first on some old spare cable. Lots of tutorials on YT. 1 Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Thank you for that - I believe there is an offcut of CCA lying about, I will have a go on that. Do I need any particular flux or solder? I have regular plumbing flux and solder, not sure if this is correct for this specialised application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 Need different solder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 60/40 electronics solder or most stock the lead free equivalent, flux is in the solder core (rosin). Do not use plumbing solder it's not suitable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 (edited) OK great. I might have some electronics solder already. I know that I definitely have lead and lead free solder for plumbing use but that won't be suitable as mentioned above. Also it is on a large cumbersome reel. Last q - how do I put the system into standby / switch it off - the wiring is live, I don't want to short / damage anything! It's a Texecom Premier Elite 24. Edited January 17, 2018 by MarkJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Safest way is to enter engineer mode and disconnect the cable fully from the panel end, take a clear photo of the connections first to make connecting back up easier. 1 Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) Ok so I went home and had a go at soldering. I think I am making a pigs ear of it as the CCA cable strands are really delicate and flimsy. Also, bearing in mind, this was done on a kitchen table with plenty of light. Doing this on a ladder high up, might yield even worse results. (a) Be brutal, how bad is my soldering? Image below shows the 3 steps - twist the wire, make a hook, hook onto corresponding wire, add solder to bond together (b) If my soldering is judged to be real bad, is using a crimp really not advisable? Edited January 18, 2018 by MarkJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJohnson Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 Another point I omitted - the cut cable is not long enough to join via soldering. An extra 5mm or so in length is needed at points A and B as there isn't any extra pull available on the cable. As such, it looks like I am going to have to cut a small length of cable (marked X in image below) and use that to join cables A and B. Is that likely to cause issues with the sensor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 No issue Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 http://www.instructables.com/id/Soldering-Tutorial-Inline-Splicing/ 1 Quote Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 1 hour ago, MarkJohnson said: Ok so I went home and had a go at soldering. I think I am making a pigs ear of it as the CCA cable strands are really delicate and flimsy. Also, bearing in mind, this was done on a kitchen table with plenty of light. Doing this on a ladder high up, might yield even worse results. (a) Be brutal, how bad is my soldering? Image below shows the 3 steps - twist the wire, make a hook, hook onto corresponding wire, add solder to bond together (b) If my soldering is judged to be real bad, is using a crimp really not advisable? It will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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