Electronic Repair - The Soldering Iron
Never Handle Any Electronic Component Without The Proper ESD (Electro Static Discharge) Protection. Never Place A Component On Top Of The ESD Bag or The Pink Foam. The ESD outside will place all the solder points at ground. The pink foam lets all static electricity pass through it, which could result in damage to any electronic component.
How to Choose the Best Soldering Station
By Benjamin Carson | Submitted On October 29, 2013
With all the different technical specifications and types of soldering stations available, choosing a station that will suit your needs and requirements can be a very daunting task, however, by simply breaking down the main components of a soldering station and the accessories needed to needed to complete a soldering project, you will easily be able to select a soldering station and accessories that will suit your budget and soldering requirements. Listed below are some of the things you might want to consider when buying a soldering station.
What is a soldering station?
A soldering station is made up of a variable power supply, soldering iron and iron holder. Soldering stations have many advantages over standard, fixed power soldering irons, such as the ability to accurately set the tip temperature, LCD readouts, pre-set temperature settings and ESD (electro static discharge) protection. Another major plus point for the soldering station is having all your soldering equipment in one place.
The price
Soldering stations start from around $20 for a very basic station and go up into the thousands for a professional setup. For the very occasional user the low priced ($20 - $50) stations will cope with light electronics repairs. For the more frequent soldering enthusiast the medium priced stations ($50 - $150) would be more appropriate due to the better build quality, higher temperature ranges, digital displays and higher wattages. As with most things, you do get what you pay for.
Makes of Soldering Station
There are several soldering station manufacturers that all produce quality stations at affordable prices, these include; X-tronic, Hakko, Weller and Aoyue. The X-tronic range of stations are very good value for money and include a range of accessories to get you soldering straight away.
Station Specifications
Wattage:
A higher wattage station does not mean more heat, what it does mean is that when the soldering iron tip is in use the heat will be transferred from the tip to the component that is being soldered, making the tip cool down. A higher wattage station will get the tip back to the pre-set operating temperature quicker than a low wattage one.
If you are going to be soldering small electronic components then you probably won't need a high wattage station, a 30 - 50 watt station will be adequate for this type of soldering. If you are going to be soldering large components or thick wires it would be better to choose a station in the 50 - 80 watt range.
LCD Display
Most of the medium price ranges of stations have LCD displays; this gives an accurate visualisation of the set temperature and the actual tip temperature. The lower priced stations have a dial to adjust the temperature and as such tend not be as accurate as the LCD models.
Soldering Iron
The soldering iron should have interchangeable tips that are available in various sizes and shapes and are also easily obtainable. The iron should be comfortable to hold and lightweight enough to use for long periods. The cord from the controller to the iron should be flexible, long and made of a non burnable rubber.
The power supply / controller
Different makes and models of stations have a variety of options and features such as
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Touch button or dial temperature settings
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The ability to pre-set and save favourite temperature settings
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Auto power shutoff to the iron after a pre-set time
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Password settings protection
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ESD safe equipment
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Tip temperature calibration
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LCD displays
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Switch display between Centigrade and Fahrenheit
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Low temperature warning
Soldering stations have an average temperature range between 200-480° C (392-897° F) and can heat up to operating temperature in 20 - 40 seconds. The wattages of the stations vary between 30 watts and 80 watts for the low to middle priced stations.
Soldering Iron Holder
The iron holders also vary in shape, size and accessories. The types of accessories include;
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Solder reel holders
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Tip Cleaning sponge
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Wire tip cleaner
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Tip removal tool
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Spare tip holders
There a wide range of options available for all types of budgets. It all depends on how much you want to spend, the features that you require and the types of soldering projects you will be undertaking.
Once you have decided on your budget and the features you require, choosing the best soldering station for your needs is a relatively simple task that involves reading the reviews and side by side comparisons of all the top selling stations on the Best Soldering Station [http://www.bestsolderingstation.net/best-soldering-station-for-the-money] website.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Benjamin_Carson/1735057
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I have been an Electronic Technician since the early 80s. I graduated with my AAS Degree In Electrical Engineering with the master in Electronics. I worked as an Electronics Technician from 1984 to 1996. I then worked as a Computer Technician from 1996 to 2020. I have done various electronic repairs on various items through all these years. I have certifications in through hole soldering and surface mount soldering. I also have certifications in EST - Electro Static Discharge Training.
I also have certifications in the computer field for various computers and printers. I also have a certification in networking from Microsoft. I am a Ham Radio Operator with my General License since 2010.
Choosing the Right Soldering Iron for Electronics Work
By Steve J Hobley | Submitted On October 02, 2010
Dan, one of my Facebook buddies, wrote to me asking about choosing a soldering iron:
"Quick question... I'm looking for a new soldering iron. would you recommend anything under 40 dollars without a soldering station? I'm getting tired of my RadioShack 45 watt iron with the screw on tips (and having to use a bench grinder everyday to clean the tips)."
I've been asked this question quite a bit, so I thought it was time to put something together explaining about soldering irons, flux and tinning.
Soldering Iron The first thing I would recommend is getting an adjustable temperature soldering iron, and get used to setting the correct temperature for the different types of parts you are working with - hotter for larger gauge, and cooler for thinner, finer work. I typically work in the 325F to 400F range. I've been using the Velleman LAB1U, it has a built in multi-meter and power supply. These can be a bit pricey, so check out the Weller brand - sometimes they go on sale for around $40. I would avoid the Cold Heat soldering irons - they are unsuitable for delicate electronics, as are the big soldering "gun" type irons.
I used to use quite large gauge solder and tips, but just recently (after doing a lot of surface-mount work) switched to 1/32″ tip and 0.32″ diameter solder. This allows for much finer control with less overspill.
My soldering iron has a built in "damp sponge" to clean off excess solder between uses. In the past I have used regular paper towels to do the same job, but a dedicated sponge with a circular hole cut in the middle really works best.
Helping Hands The next thing I wouldn't be without is are some "Helping Hands" - these are pairs of crocodile clips that can be used to hold the workpiece while you concentrate on the soldering. this is really important, as it won't be long before you realise that you need 4 hands to solder things.
Even better than helping hands is a:
Bench Vice/Vise I bought one of these 2 years ago and it's proven to be invaluable. The brand I use is "PanaVise" and they come with a range of bases and options - Fry's carries them, and they are available online. You can put the whole PCB you are working on into the vice, insert the components and then just flip it over to solder.
Flux Pen Rosin Flux is a substance that encourages the solder to flow. If you find that you are having trouble getting a good solder joint then it's probably because the heat transfer isn't working correctly, or the components are dirty. Applying some solder flux to the joint area will really help - I've been using a flux pen for years and wouldn't want to be without one. An alternative is flux paste - like toothpaste it comes in a tube and can be applied with the fingers.
Tip Tinner and Cleaner When you first fit a new soldering iron tip it will be bright, shiny and very difficult to work with. The solder will not stick to it and so you cannot "tin" the tip properly. Some people will use fine sandpaper to break in a new tip but I prefer to dip the new tip into some RadioShack "Tip Tinner and Cleaner". This starts the process nicely. It's also a good idea to dip the soldering iron after you are finished, and before you switch off. I find that it really helps to prevent the tip from wearing out prematurely.
Fume extractor If you do a lot of soldering, then you need to get something installed on your bench to divert the fumes away from your face. It's not recommended to breath in solder fumes at all. I use a small fan, but a proper extractor is a very good idea.
Wire Cutters The final piece of essential equipment is a pair of sharp, flat bottomed wire cutters. These are used to trim off excess component wire (the "leg") after soldering. The flat bottom is important to get the cut as close to the PCB as possible. Don't go too cheap with these, I paid about $17 for mine.
That just about covers the basics of soldering, I would also think about getting a loupe (magnifier), some solder wick and solder "sucker" for removal, wire strippers and isopropyl alcohol and an old toothbrush for flux removal.
Very soon I'll put together a series of articles on soldering technique - covering basic through-hole assembly, and the more advanced surface-mount technology.
Steve Hobley was born in the UK, and grew up in the Midlands watching Doctor Who*, Knight Rider, Batman and a bunch of other trashy TV shows.
In his spare time like to deconstruct all the lovely consumer goods we share and enjoy with a goal to make unique and interesting things. From Tesla Coils, to Daleks, Laser Harps and beyond. You can reach Steve here -http://www.stephenhobley.com/blog
A few years ago he posted a short clip of the laser harp he developed on YouTube. Automagically that one clip got picked up by Gizmodo, Engadget and a bunch of other tech journals. The end result (apart from a ton of views on YouTube) was to get hired as a consultant for Little Boots - creating a laser harp for her 2010 US tour.
* Before it was cool.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Steve_J_Hobley/786746