|
The construction of simple electronic circuits
is well within the ability of most people providing that the
basic soldering skills are mastered and the correct tools are
used. The basic toolkit for the beginner will consist of small
and large pairs of pliers, wire cutters, an assortment of screwdrivers,
an antistatic wristband and a good quality soldering iron.
Soldering Nearly all electronics projects for the home constructor
will require the use of a soldering iron, and the ability to
produce reliable solder joints is a skill which will require
some practice. It is often a very confusing task for the novice
to choose a suitable soldering iron as there is such a wide selection
to choose from. A good starting point is to choose a soldering
iron with a power rating of about 45W which should be powerful
enough to heat up most small solder joints. Many soldering irons
use a low voltage element and are often supplied with a spring
stand attached to the mains transformer. The element of the iron
contains a thermostat which regulates the temperature of the
iron. The tip of the iron is usually interchangeable which allows
it to be replaced when it wears out and also allows different
profiles of tip to be used for different tasks. Usually a chisel
point tip is supplied with the iron but this may be replaced
by a pointed tip for very detailed work, or a broader tip for
attaching wires to terminals. Some soldering irons also have
the facility for controlling the exact temperature of the iron
but this is usually an unnecessary expense.
Solder
Until recently the usual type of solder would be a 60 / 40 alloy
of tin and lead but due to the recent introduction of the ROHS
directive, it has been necessary to come up with alternative
types of solder which are lead free. The newer types of solder
are almost 100% tin with a small amount of copper and sometimes
a small amount of silver. The disadvantage of the new solder
is that it has a higher melting point which is why a 45W soldering
iron is recommended. The other main drawback is that the solder
produces a very dull joint. When using the old lead-tin solder,
a dull joint usually meant that it was contaminated and was a
good visual indicator of dry joints and bad soldering. However,
with a bit of practice, the new solder becomes just as easy to
use as the old solder. |
