What Kind of Glue Can I Use in Electronics?

January 19, 2015 2:52 AM

So - I need to epoxy some wire back into a tiny plug. The old one holding it was whitish. Can I use regular epoxy or do I need some kind that it especially made for electronics? Thanks
posted by watercarrier to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

You'll need to use electrically conductive epoxy. Normal epoxy will isolate.
Ask for it at your local source of electronics components.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:32 AM on January 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

It's not at all clear what you're asking. Are you asking how to reconnect the wire to the plug (making an electrical connection) using epoxy alone? Or are you asking how to secure the wire when the electrical connection is intact (e.g. after soldering)?
posted by pipeski at 3:50 AM on January 19, 2015

Are you sure this was expoxied and not soldered? Can you post a pic?
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:18 AM on January 19, 2015

Response by poster: Here is what I need to connect

to this


Sorry for the blur - it's basically your grade a average electronic wire that snapped from mileage counter that was attached to a stepper machine - that needs to be re-attached via the plug it snapped of from.
posted by watercarrier at 8:57 AM on January 19, 2015

Response by poster: The way this thing was shipped - it appears to have been soldered (maybe) and then reinforced with epoxy coating so it doesn't tear loose. But surprise, surprise - it did.
posted by watercarrier at 8:59 AM on January 19, 2015

Usually this sort of thing is fixed by soldering the wire to the plug (to create the electrical connection) and then hot-gluing it all together (to give mechanical strength).

If it's just a single wire on that side then it doesn't really matter if the glue is conductive or not -- but most glues aren't.
posted by neckro23 at 9:05 AM on January 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: ok - cool neckro - so it does need to be soldered. Just wondering in lieu of a soldering iron not being on hand if there is any kind of other conducting material I could use just to get the juice flowing again.
posted by watercarrier at 9:08 AM on January 19, 2015

Best answer: Yep. you need to solder this, firstly. After that, any way you'd like to insulate or strengthen it should be fine.
posted by destructive cactus at 9:08 AM on January 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: OK will get the soldering done somehow - thank you very much! :)
posted by watercarrier at 9:11 AM on January 19, 2015

Best answer: It's hard to tell from your picture, but if there is enough wire, and the plug has a metal loop or something to attach the wire to, you might be able to get away with threading the wire through the loop, twisting it very tightly on itself so that it is in tight contact with the metal, and then hot gluing it in place. If you do this, and your equipment ever stops working, it will be because the connection has disconnected. But it will probably get it working well enough in the meantime if you can't solder it right away.
posted by lollusc at 5:41 PM on January 19, 2015 [1 favorite]