Soldering Wires - Here's a Different Way
by Richard Langner in Circuits > Soldering
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Soldering Wires - Here's a Different Way
This is a easy method of soldering wires to circuit boards. The solder feeds itself into the joint automatically so you don't need an extra hand to hold it. This method also allows exact amounts of solder on each joint. And it's quick.
Supplies
Nothing special required, just your soldering iron and solder. Oh, and your PCB and wires!
Watch the Video
Two great tips in a couple of minutes. Subscribe to the channel for more like this.
Why Use My Method?
Use this method where you want to avoid 'spikey' joints and achieve speed and consistency of the joints.
So many times I see people using previously applied solder on a joint where the flux has already been used up. This can lead to 'spikey' solder joints. My method feeds in flux and new solder automatically at the correct speed and the correct quantity for the joint.
How It Works
Instead of the solder being last to the joint, I apply it first and I make sure it's not all melted. I cut off the surplus to ensure the joint will have the correct amount of solder. Now's a good time to add solder lengths to the other pads that require wires.
The Soldering Step Is Super-quick
Offer up the wire to the joint followed by the iron. The solder melts and feeds into the joint super-quick (watch the video, even in slow-mo it's amazing).
Multiple Wire Joints
If you have lots of wires to connect, this is a real timesaver. Each joint can have a different amount of solder depending on its size. Trimming off the length determines how much solder will be used, so it keeps you in full control here.
Not having to hold the solder gives you freedom to position each wire easily by hand.
Avoiding Melting the Insulation
Here is the last tip. Pull the sleeving back before soldering, and ease it back after the joint cools.