SOLDERING

First a few safety precautions:

Never touch the element or tip of the solderin iron!
They are very hot (about 400C) and will give you a nasty burn.
"a#e reat care to avoid touchin the mains fle$ with the tip of the iron!
The iron should have a heatproof flex for extra protection. An ordinary plastic flex will
elt iediately if touched by a hot iron and there is a serious ris! of burns and electric
shoc!.
%lways return the solderin iron to its stand when not in use!
"ever put it down on your wor!bench# even for a oent$
&or# in a well'ventilated area!
The so!e fored as you elt solder is ostly fro the flux and %uite irritating. Avoid
breathing it by !eeping you head to the side of# not above# your wor!.
&ash your hands after usin solder!
&older contains lead which is a poisonous etal.
"reatment for minor (urns
'ost burns fro soldering are li!ely to be inor and treatent is siple(
Immediately cool the affected area under ently runnin cold water!
)eep the burn in the cold water for at least * inutes (+* inutes is recoended).
,f ice is readily available this can be helpful too# but do not delay the initial cooling with
cold water.
Do not apply any creams or ointments! The burn will heal better without the. A dry
dressing# such as a clean hand!erchief# ay be applied if you wish to protect the area
fro dirt.
See# medical attention if the (urn covers an area (ier than your hand!
Solderin iron
The best type for electronics wor! is one powered by ains electricity (-.0/ in the 0))# it
should have a heatproof ca(le for safety. The iron1s power rating should be +* to -*2 and it
should be fitted with a sall bit of - to . diaeter.
Other types of solderin iron
Low voltae soldering irons are available# but their extra safety is underined if you have a
ains lead to their power supply$ "emperature controlled irons are excellent for fre%uent use#
but not worth the extra expense if you are a beginner. Gas'powered irons are designed for use
where no ains supply is available and are not suitable for everyday use. 3istol shaped solder
uns are far too powerful and cubersoe for noral electronics use.
Solderin iron stand
4ou ust have a safe place to put the iron when you are not holding it. The stand should include
a sponge which can be dapened for cleaning the tip of the iron.
De'solderin pump )solder suc#er*
A tool for reoving solder when de5soldering a
6oint to correct a ista!e or replace a coponent.
Solder remover wic# )copper (raid*
This is an alternative to the de5soldering pup shown above.
Reel of solder
The best si7e for electronics is --swg (swg 8 standard wire gauge).
Side cutters
9or triing coponent leads close to the circuit board.
&ire strippers
'ost designs include a cutter as well# but they are not suitable
for triing coponent leads.
Small pliers
0sually called 1snipe nose1 pliers# these are for bending
coponent leads etc. ,f you put a strong rubber band across the
handles the pliers a!e a convenient holder for parts such as
switches while you solder the contacts.
Small flat'(lade screwdriver
9or scraping away excess flux and dirt between
trac!s# as well as driving screws$
+eat sin#
4ou can buy a special tool# but a standard crocodile clip wor!s 6ust as
well and is cheaper.
,, "he followin tool is only re-uired if you are usin strip'(oard:
"rac# cutter
A . drill bit can be used instead: in fact the tool is usually 6ust a . drill
bit with a proper handle fitted.
"he followin tools are only re-uired if you ma#e your own ./0s:
./0 ru((er
This is an abrasive rubber for cleaning 3C;s. ,t can also be used to clean
stripboard where the copper trac!s have becoe dull and tarnished.
Small electric drill
,deally this should be ounted in a drill stand. 4ou will need a range of sall
drill bits# but for ost holes a + bit is suitable. <arger holes can be drilled
with a hand drill but + bits are too fragile to use reliably in a hand drill.
.reparin the solderin iron
.lace the solderin iron in its stand and plu in! The iron will ta!e a few inutes to
reach its operating teperature of about 400C.
Dampen the spone in the stand! The best way to do this is to lift it out the stand and
hold it under a cold tap for a oent# then s%uee7e to reove excess water. ,t should be
dap# not dripping wet.
&ait a few minutes for the solderin iron to warm up! 4ou can chec! if it is ready by
trying to elt a little solder on the tip.
&ipe the tip of the iron on the damp spone! This will clean the tip.
1elt a little solder on the tip of the iron! This is called 1tinning1 and it will help the heat
to flow fro the iron=s tip to the 6oint. ,t only needs to be done when you plug in the iron#
and occasionally while soldering if you need to wipe the tip clean on the sponge.
2ou are now ready to start solderin,
Ready to start solderin:
+old the solderin iron li#e a pen3 near the (ase of the handle!
,agine you are going to write your nae$ >eeber to never touch the hot eleent or
tip.
"ouch the solderin iron onto the 4oint to (e made!
'a!e sure it touches both the coponent lead and the trac!. ?old the tip there for a few
seconds and...
Feed a little solder onto the 4oint!
,t should flow soothly onto the lead and trac! to for a volcano shape as shown in the
diagra. Apply the solder to the 6oint# not the iron.
Remove the solder3 then the iron3 while #eepin the 4oint still!
Allow the 6oint a few seconds to cool before you ove the circuit board.
Inspect the 4oint closely!
,t should loo! shiny and have a 1volcano1 shape. ,f not# you will need to reheat it and feed
in a little ore solder. This tie ensure that (oth the lead and trac! are heated fully
before applying solder.
Soldering Advice for Components
,t is very tepting to start soldering coponents onto the circuit
board straight away# but please ta!e tie to identify all the parts
first. 4ou are uch less li!ely to a!e a ista!e if you do this$
+. Stic# all the components onto a sheet of paper usin
stic#y tape!
-. Identify each component and write its nae or value
beside it.
.. %dd the code )R53 R63 /5 etc!* if necessary!
'any pro6ects fro boo!s and aga7ines label the
coponents with codes (>+# >-# C+# @+ etc.) and you should use the pro6ect1s parts list to
find these codes if they are given.
4. Resistor values can be found using the resistor colour code which is explained on our
>esistors page. 4ou can print out and a!e your own >esistor Colour Code Calculator to
help you.
*. /apacitor values can be difficult to find because there are any types with different
labelling systes$ The various systes are explained on our Capacitors page.
&oe coponents re%uire special care when soldering. 'any ust be placed the correct way
round and a few are easily daaged by the heat fro soldering. Appropriate warnings are given
in the table below# together with other advice which ay be useful when soldering.
9or ore detail on specific coponents please see the Coponents page or clic! on the
coponent nae in the table.
9or ost pro6ects it is best to put the coponents onto the board in the order given below(
/omponents .ictures Reminders and &arnins
+
/hip +olders
(@,< soc!ets)
/onnect the correct way round
by a!ing sure the notch is at the
correct end.
@o "AT put the ,Cs (chips) in yet.
- Resistors
"o special precautions are needed
with resistors.
. Small value capacitors
(usually less than +B9)
These ay be connected either
way round.
Ta!e care with polystyrene
capacitors because they are easily
daaged by heat.
4
Electrolytic capacitors
(+B9 and greater)
/onnect the correct way round!
They will be ar!ed with a C or 5
near one lead.
* Diodes
/onnect the correct way round!
Ta!e care with geraniu diodes
(e.g. AAD+) because they are
easily daaged by heat.
E LEDs
/onnect the correct way round!
The diagra ay be labelled a or
7 for anode and # or ' for cathode:
yes# it really is !# not c# for
cathode$ The cathode is the short
lead and there ay be a slight flat
on the body of round <F@s.
G "ransistors
/onnect the correct way round!
Transistors have . 1legs1 (leads) so
extra care is needed to ensure the
connections are correct.
Fasily daaged by heat.
H
&ire Lin#s between points
on the circuit board. single core wire
0se single core wire# this is one
solid wire which is plastic5coated.
,f there is no danger of touching
other parts you can use tinned
copper wire# this has no plastic
coating and loo!s 6ust li!e solder
but it is stiffer.
D
0attery clips# (u88ers and
other parts with their own
wires
/onnect the correct way round!
+0
&ires to parts off the circuit
board# including switches#
relays# varia(le resistors
and loudspea#ers.
stranded wire
4ou should use stranded wire
which is flexible and plastic5
coated.
@o not use single core wire
because this will brea! when it is
repeatedly flexed.
++ I/s )chips* /onnect the correct way round!
1any I/s are static sensitive!
<eave ,Cs in their antistatic
pac!aging until you need the#
then earth your hands by touching
a etal water pipe or window
frae before touching the ,Cs.
/arefully insert I/s in their
holders( a!e sure all
the pins are lined up with
the soc!et then push
down firly with your
thub.
What is solder?
&older is an alloy (ixture) of tin and lead# typically E0I tin and 40I
lead. ,t elts at a teperature of about -00C. Coating a surface with
solder is called 1tinning1 because of the tin content of solder. <ead is
poisonous and you should always wash your hands after using solder.
&older for electronics use contains tiny cores of flux# li!e the wires inside a ains flex. The flux
is corrosive# li!e an acid# and it cleans the etal surfaces as the solder elts. This is why you
ust elt the solder actually on the 6oint# not on the iron tip. 2ithout flux ost 6oints would fail
because etals %uic!ly oxidi7e and the solder itself will not flow properly onto a dirty# oxidised#
etal surface.
The best si7e of solder for electronics is --swg (swg 8 standard wire gauge).
De-soldering
At soe stage you will probably need to desolder a
6oint to reove or re5position a wire or coponent.
There are two ways to reove the solder(

5! &ith a de'solderin pump )solder suc#er*
&et the pup by pushing the spring5loaded
plunger down until it loc!s.
Apply both the pup no77le and the tip of
your soldering iron to the 6oint.
2ait a second or two for the solder to elt.
Then press the button on the pup to release the plunger and suc! the olten solder into
the tool.
>epeat if necessary to reove as uch solder as possible.
The pup will need eptying occasionally by unscrewing the no77le.
6! &ith solder remover wic# )copper (raid*
Apply both the end of the wic! and the tip of your soldering iron
to the 6oint.
0sing a de5soldering pup (solder suc!er)
As the solder elts ost of it will flow onto the wic!# away fro the 6oint.
>eove the wic! first# then the soldering iron.
Cut off and discard the end of the wic! coated with solder.
After reoving ost of the solder fro the 6oint(s) you ay be able to reove the wire or
coponent lead straight away (allow a few seconds for it to cool). ,f the 6oint will not coe apart
easily apply your soldering iron to elt the reaining traces of solder at the sae tie as pulling
the 6oint apart# ta!ing care to avoid burning yourself.
&oldering Techni%ue
50se a good soldering iron with fine pencil tip. >adio5&hac! irons are good and reliable.
5,t is iportant to have a clean tip. @o not use very abrasive surfaces to clean J polish the
soldering iron tip. if the tip loo!s bent or daaged# it is worth investing in a new tip.
53lease ta!e all precautions while using soldering irons.
&older on a fire resistant surface. ?oosote# or dry wall are good.
"ever leave your iron plugged in and unattended.
@o not overload a wall outlet with too any electric appliances.
"ever set your hot iron down on anything other than an iron stand.
>eplace the cord of your iron if it becoes worn or gets burnt.
To prevent burning your fingers# use needle nose pliers or heat resistant gloves to hold
sall pieces.
"ever cut off a grounding prong on an iron plug to a!e it fit an ungrounded receptacle.



'a!e sure the tip is clean is fairly sharp. Also# clean the tip with wet sponge.
,f soldering on a printed circuit board place the coponents and bed the leads on the soldering
side slightly# to hold the coponent in place. 0se Khelping handsK to hold the board.
'elt slight solder on the tip of the iron.