Printed circuit boards, or PCBs, offer an inexpensive and highly reliable way to mass produce an electrical circuit. The board is coated with copper, and etchings allow for the electrical signal to transfer from component to component without the need for wires. Soldering on a PCB is similar to soldering any typical electrical connection, but a few special considerations should to be observed to avoid damaging the board and components.
Instructions
1. Prepare the soldering iron by tinning the tip: Heat the iron and touch the solder to its tip, coating it thoroughly in a layer of molten solder; this will clean the tip of the iron and increase its heat conductivity. Wipe the tip clean on a damp sponge after it has been tinned.
2. Clean the surface of the PCB with an abrasive cleaning pad, such as 3M Scotch Brite Pads. Be sure to use industrial strength pads that are free of soap and cleaners. Apply a bit of acetone solvent to help remove chemicals from the boards surface, and air dry with a canister of compressed air.
3. Place the leads of the component to be soldered into the proper pre-drilled holes in the boards. Items such as resistors, capacitors and diodes have long lead wires that can be bent at a 45-degree angle to hold the component in place. Transistors and integrated circuits (ICs) usually have shorter leads and can be held in place with masking tape.
4. Heat the surface of the joint where the component lead meets the PCB. Tin the iron tip again just prior to heating the joint to help in conducting heat.
5. Pull the soldering iron back and place solder directly onto the heated joint. If the solder does not melt and flow easily, the joint may not have been heated thoroughly. Do not touch the solder directly to the tip of the iron as you apply it, and create a thick and even pool of solder that completely coats the joint.
6. When all leads have been soldered, use wire cutters to trim back the component leads.
7. Repeat Steps 3 through 6 for each component to be soldered.
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