Contents
How should a properly soldered joint appear?
Typically the contour of the solder around the joint should be slightly concave. To much solder on a joint may lead to poor joints, and there is always the possibility, particularly on printed circuit boards that if too much solder is used then it could spill over onto another track, causing a short circuit.
When soldering should the solder or soldering iron touch the component lead First Why?
The positioning of the tip and solder when getting ready to solder is very important in creating a perfect joint. The tip must come into contact with the lead and the board’s pad. The iron will heat the pad and the lead. The heat of the two will then easily melt the solder creating a clean and solid joint.
What safety precautions should you take when soldering?
Soldering Safety
- Never touch the element of the soldering iron…. 400°C!
- Hold wires to be heated with tweezers or clamps.
- Keep the cleaning sponge wet during use.
- Always return the soldering iron to its stand when not in use. Never put it down on the workbench.
- Turn unit off and unplug when not in use.
What do you need to know about solder joints?
A solder joint is merely a specific soldered point of interconnecting an electronic component onto the PCB. A cross-section of an ideal solder joint should have a smooth and glossy concave-shaped molten solder that climbs up the pin of the element that is to be soldered, as shown in image one below:
Can a soldering iron be used to draw off excess solder?
The excess solder can usually be drawn-off with the tip of the iron. Prevention: A properly pre-heated soldering iron with sufficient power will help prevent cold joints. At the other extreme, we have the overheated joint. The solder has not yet flowed well and the residue of burnt flux will make fixing this joint difficult.
Is there a maximum amount of solder that can be used on a component?
No maximum, but solder must not touch the component package body. No maximum, but solder must not touch the component package body. No maximum, but solder must not touch the component package body. Evidence of proper wetting. Equal to the solder thickness plus 50% of lead thickness. Equal to the solder thickness plus 100% of lead thickness.
What are the most common problems with solder?
Common Soldering Problems 1 Disturbed Joint. 2 Cold Joint. 3 Overheated Joint. 4 Insufficient Wetting (Pad) 5 Insufficient Wetting (Pin) 6 Insufficient Wetting. 7 (Surface Mount) 8 Solder Starved. 9 Too Much Solder. 10 Untrimmed Leads.