soldering led emitters?

[stephenm2682]

any ideas how to go about soldering the k2 emitters, i didn't really see how bloody awkward they can be, should i pre solder the leads first, or just get a 'fine' tip for my soldering iron, cause at the mo it's a pita to get a good bond.

[Hans Dorn]

Tinning wires and pins helps a LOT. You don't need an extra fine tip, as long as you can get to the pins without melting the LED case, lol.

 

Also, give your tip a good cleaning and tinning. Rubbing it with a paper tissue gets the oxide layer off.

[doctaq]

flux is also key but not too much

[redfishsc]

Agreed with Hans.

 

I'm a soldering noob but here is how I do it. It takes me longer but I haven't botched a solder joint yet (no overflow).

 

 

1) Tin the wires.

 

2) Tin the solder pads.

 

3) Set the wire on top of the tinned solder pad. Touch the soldering iron to the top of the wire. It will melt, as will the solder on the pad. The wire will drop down onto the solder pad. DONE.

 

 

 

 

A few tips for tinning the wires:

 

It's very easy to tin the wires. Cut them all and strip off about 1/8" or so from the ends.

 

Set your soldering iron DOWN with the tip sticking out in the air. I use a glass cereal bowl or other dish to lay the soldering iron on.

 

Wire in right hand, solder roll in the left. Touch them together right at the tip of the soldering iron. Keep a bit of solder on the tip of the soldering iron. You'll get a small amount of solder melting onto the wire very quickly. You can tin a lot of wire in a hurry this way.

 

For very large numbers of wire you can melt some solder in a very small metal container (I've seen people use small alcohol or oil candles and metal measuring cups). Just dip the wire into the melted solder. DONE.

 

 

 

 

Tips for tinning the solder pads:

 

1) Get the tip hot and then clean it.

 

2) Touch the solder onto the tip and get a small bead of hot solder on the tip.

 

3) Touch the tip onto the solder pad. You don't need to touch the solder wire to the pad; all you need is the small bead that's formed on the tip of the iron.

 

 

 

 

If the solder won't stick, use some flux paste.

[doctaq]

you need 3 hands to do this by the way as with all solder work

[Hans Dorn]

you need 3 hands to do this by the way as with all solder work

I usually hold a piece of wire and a piece of solder in the same hand, and complete the task while sweating and swearing