What Tool Is Used to Solder Wires to a Circuit Board?
What tools and materials are needed to solder wires to a circuit board? What is the proper soldering technique to create a strong, conductive connection between wire and circuit board, without accidentally damaging other electrical components?
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Tools Needed
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The process of soldering wires to a circuit board requires a few basic tools. The first tool needed is a soldering iron. A soldering iron converts electrical energy into heat, focusing the heat in a small metal tip. When the soldering iron has heated up, it is used to melt solder, a soft metal typically composed of lead, tin or other metal alloys. Solder melts at a relatively low heat, allowing the soldering iron to melt the alloy and bond electrical components to an empty circuit board.
Soldering Irons
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Soldering irons come in many different shapes, sizes and wattages. When soldering wires to a circuit board, you will want to use a nimble, pen-type soldering iron with a relatively low wattage (15-30 watts). Pen-type soldering irons are cheap, easy to handle and are great for precise work. Soldering irons are also available with a variety of tips. The tip is the part of the soldering iron that makes contact with the circuit board and electrical component. Look for a sharp, pointed tip for soldering tiny components and a larger flat or rounded tip for soldering heavy-gauge wire and larger components.
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Types of Solder
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Most solders are an alloy of at least two metals. Tin and lead are the most common metals in electronic solder and usually come in alloys of 60-percent tin/40-percent lead, or 63-percent tin/37-percent lead. The latter 63/37 alloy solder is recommend for electrical work, as it has the lowest melting point of tin/lead solders, making it ideal for work on delicate circuit boards where high heat might damage electrical components.
Flux
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When shopping for electrical solder, you will often find a type called "Flux core solder." Flux core solder is a tin/lead alloy solder that has an inner core of flux. Flux is used to clean and protect electrical contacts from impurities and oxidation. Rosin or water-soluble flux is preferred in electronic work over acid flux, as they do not damage the circuit board or electrical components.
Proper Technique
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The proper way to solder wires to a circuit board are as follows. Allow the soldering iron to heat up (five to 10 minutes). Test the iron by touching the tip with a small piece of solder; if the solder melts quickly, the iron is ready. Clean the tip of the iron on a wet sponge and begin to prepare your electrical components. If soldering solid or braided wires, strip 1/8-inch of wire and insert the wire into the hole on the circuit board. Place the tip of the soldering iron at the base of the wire, touching both the wire and the contact on the circuit board. Allow the iron to heat the base of the wire for a few seconds, then apply solder to the opposite side of the wire. The solder will be drawn towards the heat, so it is important to apply the solder to the wire opposite the soldering iron tip. Your connection is then complete.
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