I have had a bit of a crazy idea...

[Raguri]

So, mums got into jewellery making... and I've had an idea.
Could I coat copper contacts with silver solder to create a kind of plating on them to reduce voltage drop?..

 

[BaDaBooM]

Or you could just get silver plated copper wire. Amazon.co.uk: silver plated copper wire

 

[Raguri]

Or you could just get silver plated copper wire. Amazon.co.uk: silver plated copper wire

But, this is for mechanical contacts. Should have put that into the first post really. I'm thinking that even if it doesn't reduce voltage drop by much, not having to clean them every three days would.make it worthwhile,

 

[man_d]

Silver solder comes in different grades, Hard, Medium, Easy and Extra Easy, each one has a different melting point (hard being the highest, extra easy is the lowest) and all require a blowtorch to melt. Because they're solder they contain other metals that effectively make them alloys, meaning they're not 925 (sterling) silver.

No idea how it would affect voltage drop because I don't really understand all the maths behind that, but I just wanted to point out that silver solder isn't pure silver. And that you would need a blowtorch. And also that heating the copper hot enough to melt the solder would anneal your copper contacts and make them supersoft, if that makes any difference to what you're aiming to do.

 

[BaDaBooM]

But, this is for mechanical contacts. Should have put that into the first post really. I'm thinking that even if it doesn't reduce voltage drop by much, not having to clean them every three days would.make it worthwhile,

You mean like a battery contact screw like in a chiyou ??

 

[man_d]

Silver solder comes in different grades, Hard, Medium, Easy and Extra Easy, each one has a different melting point (hard being the highest, extra easy is the lowest) and all require a blowtorch to melt. Because they're solder they contain other metals that effectively make them alloys, meaning they're not 925 (sterling) silver.

No idea how it would affect voltage drop because I don't really understand all the maths behind that, but I just wanted to point out that silver solder isn't pure silver. And that you would need a blowtorch. And also that heating the copper hot enough to melt the solder would anneal your copper contacts and make them supersoft, if that makes any difference to what you're aiming to do.

You'd also need to flux the copper pin, and have an effectively way of cleaning the crap (the excess flux and and black bits of oxidisation off) afterwards. Jewellers use hot acid baths. You may then also have to file it back afterwards to create a flat surface, because if you use too much solder you'll probably create more of a 'bump' rather than a coating.

 

[Raguri]

Silver solder comes in different grades, Hard, Medium, Easy and Extra Easy, each one has a different melting point (hard being the highest, extra easy is the lowest) and all require a blowtorch to melt. Because they're solder they contain other metals that effectively make them alloys, meaning they're not 925 (sterling) silver.

No idea how it would affect voltage drop because I don't really understand all the maths behind that, but I just wanted to point out that silver solder isn't pure silver. And that you would need a blowtorch. And also that heating the copper hot enough to melt the solder would anneal your copper contacts and make them supersoft, if that makes any difference to what you're aiming to do.

Was thinking about melting some easy solder on a fire mat, then dipping the end of the copper contact into it. Its mainly as I'm sick and tired of having to polish them all the time.
Was just a mad idea I had really. I do also have access to sterling silver balls which I'm able to melt down using the big fucker of a blow torch, but that may not stick.

You mean like a battery contact screw like in a chiyou ??

Yep, more specifically the top and bottom for the biomech. You can buy pure silver contacts but I dont have the money for that.

 

[man_d]

Was thinking about melting some easy solder on a fire mat, then dipping the end of the copper contact into it. Its mainly as I'm sick and tired of having to polish them all the time.
Was just a mad idea I had really. I do also have access to sterling silver balls which I'm able to melt down using the big fucker of a blow torch, but that may not stick.

That probably wouldn't work, because what would happen is the solder would form a ball as it melted, then if you dip the pin onto it the ball would most likely squash into a lump on the end of the copper pin because the pin would be too cold. You'd need to get the pin in the heat too because its the heat of the metal that will help the solder to flow, it'd have to be at nearly the same temp or thereabouts as the melting point of the solder.

Sterling silver balls wouldn't work for similar reasons, silver is really thick when it's molten and you'd never get the effect of silver plate. It would just stick as a lump.

 

[Raguri]

That probably wouldn't work, because what would happen is the solder would form a ball as it melted, then if you dip the pin onto it the ball would most likely squash into a lump on the end of the copper pin because the pin would be too cold. You'd need to get the pin in the heat too because its the heat of the metal that will help the solder to flow, it'd have to be at nearly the same temp or thereabouts as the melting point of the solder.

Sterling silver balls wouldn't work for similar reasons, silver is really thick when it's molten and you'd never get the effect of silver plate. It would just stick as a lump.

Bugger. My plan has failed. Ah well, I have a good 4.8l of vinegar left!

 

[man_d]

Bugger. My plan has failed. Ah well, I have a good 4.8l of vinegar left!

Silver soldering is trickier than it looks Is is possible to take them to a jewellers and ask about the cost of getting them plated? That would give you a better result but I don't know how much it would cost you.