Quote:
Originally Posted by Becca334
Soldering is easier and will also last longer. Just make sure to have either heat shrink or electrical tape for the solder afterwards.
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I agree, except no electrical tape for me. Its heat shrink all the way for any cable going on the actual robot. Custom PWM cables can be nice and convenient but most teams do not have the proper tools and supplies to build them. Also, this is usually not very high on their priority list because there are reasonable work arounds and there are usually many more supplies and tools on the list that the average team will want to invest in before this.
I don't think you can ever completely avoid the need for soldering cables, and a properly done job is not inferior to fully custom cables. There seems to be an almost unlimited number of unusual connectors used in a FIRST robot and you never seem to have all the right parts to build at least some of them. However, very good results can be obtained on almost any of these connectors by simply developing good soldering skills.
Make sure you have a good soldering station set up with the correct tools. A good soldering iron with a water bottle for the sponge, a few sizes of solder, hand tools, proper lighting, and magnification. I keep a headband magnifier at ours. You will also need several sizes of heat shrink tubing handy. And a heat gun! Don't let students use a soldering iron, lighter, or other inappropriate source of heat for heat shrink. I would rather use an old hair drier than any of those.
Our team had no soldering station last year and no training in soldering. Soldering was also a job no one wanted to do and their work showed it. This year they have a reasonable station with more supplies and better training. Several members of the electrical team now want to show off their skills and will ask, do you want anything soldered? The quality and reliability of the cables the students produce is like night and day.