On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:54:11 -0700, Smitty Two
wrote:

In article ,
Metspitzer wrote:


All those numbers have nothing to do with a circuit with a overload.
It is true that the resistance of the solder can be considered 0, but
that doesn't keep the temperature of the wire from getting hot under
an overload. The overload doesn't have to be caused by a bad splice.

WTF does an overload have to do with it? You can't just go throwing

An overload has everything to do with it.

random faults into the discussion on a whim. If you've got an overload

Are you suggesting that random faults don't occur?

that's heating up the wires beyond the melting point of solder, and you
haven't tripped an overcurrent protector somewhere, you've got worse
problems than melted solder.

Not really. I have seen suggestions in this very group that it is ok
to go ahead and use 14 gauge wire on that light you want to put at the
end of a run that is fed by a 20 amp breaker.

Jimmie says that more than two amps of current through solder will melt
the solder. Are you in his corner on that or not?


Yes and no.

2 amps of current might melt solder on those printed circuit cards you
use, but it would be negligible on 12-14 gauge wires that are used in
houses. It would take something like using a toaster oven and a Fry
daddy on the same circuit. That could bring the wire close to a
temperature that would melt solder. A short circuit (random fault)
would for sure. That is why the NEC requires splices to be
mechanically secure before using solder.

It is obvious when you ask the question......will 2A melt solder...
you really don't understand what is going on.