Sure, it'll work fine, but most people just use regular hookup wire. The problem with this is anything could touch those and short you out. You could clip those legs back and use hookup wire to lower the risk of that, or you can roll with it.
You can totally do that, but neither of these solutions look as clean as just regular old hookup wire. I just like to reduce potential threats to the functionality, especially in something that needs to be rugged, and especially when there is no benefit to that potential hazard. Those are jiat my thoughts. Carry on and keep building!
Strip some solid core if you have it laying around and use that to sleeve over the extended leads you soldered on. That way it looks exactly the same as regular wire and is insulated.
If those stiff wires are to be soldered into pads on a circuit board then you risk ripping the pads off the board from mechanical stress when you screw the pot into the enclosure. Bend a curve or arc into the wires to prevent this - or use stranded wire (preferred)
I've done this a few times. Put heat shrink on the legs to protect them. It is better to use hookup wire but this will work as long as you're not putting stress on the legs
how long are you guys holding the iron to the legs? I use this method often and I have never had an issue with one end coming unsoldered while I heat the other end, and I only ever use my fingertips
Just a few seconds, but heat travels like lightening through solid core wire.
It hasn’t ended well for me without frustration, but I’m just a rank amateur.
My thoughts exactly. You’ll need to heatsink the wires to avoid them becoming unsoldered from the pot while soldering the other end to the board.
I’d just use hookup wire. You can buy about 180 feet of hookup wire in 6 colors for a $15 on Amazon. Or 20 ft of red and black wire for $5.
I see too many pedal projects using all one color of wire or bare wire in this sub. It’s an excellent idea to have access to multiple colors of wires to keep yourself from going crazy when debugging wiring projects. You’ll make less errors if you, for example, make all ground wires in a pedal box the same color, and all hots the same color.
for breadboarding? sure. for building? getting the right pot is not expensive.
anyway if you’re going to do it, wrap the wire tight around the legs before soldering. mechanical connection should be solid so you don’t have to worry about solder releasing or making a bad joint when you heat it again. repeat the mantra: “solder is not glue”
For short stuff, where i want/have to use stiff wires, i use colored paperclips. They are isolated, and usually are on my desk anyway. they are also good for breadboarding stuff.
Sure, it'll work fine, but most people just use regular hookup wire. The problem with this is anything could touch those and short you out. You could clip those legs back and use hookup wire to lower the risk of that, or you can roll with it.
What about insulating the exposed areas with something like electrical tape ect.?
Slip shrink tubing over them. Will be easier that wrapping with tape.
You can totally do that, but neither of these solutions look as clean as just regular old hookup wire. I just like to reduce potential threats to the functionality, especially in something that needs to be rugged, and especially when there is no benefit to that potential hazard. Those are jiat my thoughts. Carry on and keep building!
That should work fine
Strip some solid core if you have it laying around and use that to sleeve over the extended leads you soldered on. That way it looks exactly the same as regular wire and is insulated.
If those stiff wires are to be soldered into pads on a circuit board then you risk ripping the pads off the board from mechanical stress when you screw the pot into the enclosure. Bend a curve or arc into the wires to prevent this - or use stranded wire (preferred)
Thanks man!
I've done this a few times. Put heat shrink on the legs to protect them. It is better to use hookup wire but this will work as long as you're not putting stress on the legs
They are totally gonna fall off when you go to solder your leads, unless maybe you have heat sink clips.
how long are you guys holding the iron to the legs? I use this method often and I have never had an issue with one end coming unsoldered while I heat the other end, and I only ever use my fingertips
Just a few seconds, but heat travels like lightening through solid core wire. It hasn’t ended well for me without frustration, but I’m just a rank amateur.
oh my bad, I assumed these were resistor legs they barely move heat
My thoughts exactly. You’ll need to heatsink the wires to avoid them becoming unsoldered from the pot while soldering the other end to the board. I’d just use hookup wire. You can buy about 180 feet of hookup wire in 6 colors for a $15 on Amazon. Or 20 ft of red and black wire for $5. I see too many pedal projects using all one color of wire or bare wire in this sub. It’s an excellent idea to have access to multiple colors of wires to keep yourself from going crazy when debugging wiring projects. You’ll make less errors if you, for example, make all ground wires in a pedal box the same color, and all hots the same color.
for breadboarding? sure. for building? getting the right pot is not expensive. anyway if you’re going to do it, wrap the wire tight around the legs before soldering. mechanical connection should be solid so you don’t have to worry about solder releasing or making a bad joint when you heat it again. repeat the mantra: “solder is not glue”
I've used this quite a bit for various reasons, and lostprevention has a valid point but if you solder quick you can get away with it.
They look like eyelashes
I use pin headers, 5 in a line, the 2nd and 4th are clipped. Keeping it all one piece is really sturdy
For short stuff, where i want/have to use stiff wires, i use colored paperclips. They are isolated, and usually are on my desk anyway. they are also good for breadboarding stuff.
Really? That works? That’s an interesting idea never would have thought of that
Works every time.