[1000mp] Advice on MP Mods

[Ian White G3SEK]

Joe Staples wrote:
>In many of the exchanges regarding the various mods for the Yaesu 
>FT-1000MP I've seen repeated cautions about using a low wattage (20-40 
>watts) soldering iron when adding components to the MP's circuit 
>boards.  I wonder if anyone can put this suggestion in terms of the 
>optimum temperature of the soldering iron tip ?
>
>In several instances I've seen the manufacturer's spec on their 
>soldering irons indicate that there is a choice of tip temperature 
>depending  upon the task at hand.

Tip temperature and iron wattage are not practical problems.  The real 
problem is tip SIZE - your old tube-age soldering iron is too darn big 
for these tiny components, and can do a lot of "collateral damage" to 
components close by. Also your tube-aged 16ga solder will make big blobs 
on the joints.

Simply buy a modern small iron with a cone-shaped tip like a sharpened 
pencil. The pointed end lets you apply the heat exactly where it's 
needed. Don't worry about wattage and tip temperature - with the right 
kind of iron, they will automatically be about right.

(Don't use those long, skinny tips - they chill down too easily if 
you're soldering a ground connection to a large area of foil on the PC 
board. For occasional SMD work, a short, sharp-pointed cone is the best 
shape. For Weller TCP users, the magic word is PTH-8.)

While you're in the store, buy some very thin solder. Also buy a small 
reel of de-soldering braid, in case you use too much solder and need to 
remove some.

Then you're all set.


-- 
73 from Ian G3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek