>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Tweed [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] 
>Sent: 14 April 2005 13:43
>To: piclist@mit.edu
>Subject: RE: [EE] Spot welder for battery terminals
>
>
>How much current does a gun-style soldering iron put through 
>its element? If you took the tip off, that might provide 
>enough current to do battery tabs.
>
>It would be pretty convenient, too. Just take a spare tip, 
>split it in two and sharpen the ends to appropriate points 
>about 1 cm apart. Then you can hold it in one hand, use it to 
>press the tab against the battery and pull the trigger for a 
>few seconds.

Worth a try I guess.  They are usualy rated at 100Watts, and closed
circuit voltage will be very small, possibly too low to push enough
current through two sheets of metal.  I've been planning on getting a
solder gun for some of the more heavy duty soldering jobs anyway so
thanks for the suggestion.

>
>I suspect that the battery manufacturers do it with lasers, 
>for minimum heating outside the weld. There's a company that 
>advertises in NASA Tech Briefs all the time with examples like this.

My budget dosen't quite stretch to an industrial welding laser
unfortunately, and even the most powerfull of the ones we make where I
work are only capable of buring a small hole in a piece of paper. ;)

Regards

Mike

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