Solid Brass vs Tin Plated Terminals

[indr]

Is there any benefit to the tin plated ones besides being easier to solder?

[tbarstow]

Originally Posted by indr

Is there any benefit to the tin plated ones besides being easier to solder?

Lower electrical resistance than brass.

[indr]

Enough of a difference to matter on a bike's electrical system provided proper wire gauges are used?

[squish]

The way i understand it is that tin plated, or plated for that matter assuming it's plated with decent stuff
Stands up to environments that corrode much better then straight up brass, which starts to get dull fast.

This is why the bulk of connections on late model bikes are plated.

[CycleDoc59]

Originally Posted by squish

The way i understand it is that tin plated, or plated for that matter assuming it's plated with decent stuff
Stands up to environments that corrode much better then straight up brass, which starts to get dull fast.

This is why the bulk of connections on late model bikes are plated.

Yes; also the solid brass is weak and can loosen or break off easily. Poor
choice for the motorcycle environment.

[ragtoplvr]

Tin plated copper is much lower resistance than brass, which can be as bad as steel. For plug in connections tin is also preferred as it makes a better connection and does not pressure weld much. If you coat plug in connections with dielectric silicone, this will exclude oxygen and make a better connection. Rod

[Pike Bishop]

Originally Posted by tbarstow

Lower electrical resistance than brass.

Actually brass is less resistive than tin. (Brass is mostly copper, and the only thing more conductive than copper is silver.)

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/re...ity-d_418.html

[Benesesso]

Originally Posted by Pike Bishop

Actually brass is less resistive than tin. (Brass is mostly copper, and the only thing more conductive than copper is silver.)

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/re...ity-d_418.html

After a bit of corrosion, it's the conductivity/resistivity of the resulting oxide/sulfide/carbonate films that count.

That's why we gotta keep those battery terminals clean.

[greywolf]

Brass oxidizes to a very poor conductor. Ask any model railroader old enough to have used brass rail.

[Pike Bishop]

Originally Posted by greywolf

Brass oxidizes to a very poor conductor. Ask any model railroader old enough to have used brass rail.

Well, I'll be darned...you're right. I remember that!

[Bad Daddy]

I believe that Copper has 2.5 times the conductivity of brass.
Copper, being an element is also more noble than brass, which
contains zinc, a metal that will erode(corrode?) in the presence of salt.
Tinned terminals are even more corrosion resistant. Couple that with tinned
Copper wire, and you have a very reliable connection, after you crimp, then cover
with dual wall heat shrink.
FTZ connectors, Blue Sea Systems, and Ancor Wire are good sources of information.
Especially Blue Sea Systems.

BD

[Pike Bishop]

Originally Posted by greywolf

Brass oxidizes to a very poor conductor. Ask any model railroader old enough to have used brass rail.

As a kid, I had a model train set with brass rails, and I remember that ... but nowadays I have a TIG/stick welding machine that has solid brass DINSE connectors, which sometimes need to carry 310A @ some low voltage (maybe 20-30V depending on arc length?).

Considering the high currents and fairly low voltages, I wonder why they don't use something other than brass...

[Benesesso]

Originally Posted by Pike Bishop

As a kid, I had a model train set with brass rails, and I remember that ... but nowadays I have a TIG/stick welding machine that has solid brass DINSE connectors, which sometimes need to carry 310A @ some low voltage (maybe 20-30V depending on arc length?).

Considering the high currents and fairly low voltages, I wonder why they don't use something other than brass...

You're lucky it's not an older Hobart Mig welder. The high-current buss bars are freakin' aluminum. When copper/brass has some corrosion, the oxides/whatever will still have reasonably low resistance. Not so with alum. Al2O3 is a great insulator (think spark plugs), and as a connection resistance goes up so does the temperature.

It might even be capable of burning a house/trailer down to the ground.