Soldering wire issue (not "stick")

Hey,

I'm not the best person at soldering, but I'm having an issue. I had some old CAT5 cable (each wire had gold wire (not solid core)) and was very nice and easy to solder.

I decided to purchase some more CAT5 as it's very useful. I have a slight problem with the one I've brought. It's not solid core, but it's also not gold. It's silver and feels smooth. I'm unable to get any solder to bond with it, just runs off. I've tried using a knife to "graze" away at it, also tried some sandpaper and still doesn't bond.

Whats my next option to try? I don't have the best equipment. Here's the ircon I have: Wilko Site | Garden, Home, Kitchen, DIY, Household, Pets, Storage & more and the solder: Wilko Site | Garden, Home, Kitchen, DIY, Household, Pets, Storage & more

I happened to look in the shed and have some "Energised Rosin" (what ever it is) and that made no difference.

Could anybody please advise me?

Thanks!

sounds like your cable has aluminium cores. That being the case it's going to be VERY difficult (ie virtually impossible) to get a soldered joint.

Cat 5 should have copper, either solid or stranded wire. The price of copper means that some cheap (crap) cat 5 uses aluminium. It doesn't solder so easily (not at all with standard kit).

Looks like your right. I brought it off eBay. Heres what I purchased originally: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280845300279

Doesn't tell you on that one, but looking at this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280762281136 it says "Wire Construction: CCA - Copper Clad Aluminum (0.4mm in diameter, runs up to 150ft)"

Looks like I'll have to buy some more then, urgh wasted an evening and money :frowning:

Looks like I'll have to splash out a bit of cash, Might go in and see if it's copper, as it doesn't say: http://www.screwfix.com/p/cat-5e-cable-50m-beige-reel/10218#

EDIT:

Ok, it does say "copper conductor" - but does that mean solid or not, will have to go and ask/see.

try using a crimp ferrule on the and solder to that

Too painful.

I'll just go down to Screwfix tomorrow check out there CAT5.

It's solid core...

Does anybody have any idea how well solder will stick to solid core? Don't want to spend £20 and find out it doesn't work

If it's copper it doesn't matter whether its solid or stranded. The main advantage of stranded is that the wire is more flexible; the surface area being exposed to the solder is greater but that's irrelevant if the joint is properly made. Solder doesn't "stick" it "alloys" into the parent metal forming an interface compound which is a mix of both.