[Elecraft] Calibrate Solder Station

[dw]

The eutectic temperature of most 40/60 solder is around 750.
One easy test you could do once you get the tip prepped is to turn the
unit off and while it is cooling get a glob of solder to jell on it.

Then adjust the heat control to the lowest setting and turn it back on.
See what temperature setting is required to liquefy the solder you have
on the tip.
That setting will probably be your safest for heat sensitive devices.

I can tell you though, after 13 years in manufacturing and teaching
hi-rel soldering, temperature sensitivity of that resolution would have
to be for a device that is pretty vulnerable to heat.

A number of descrete devices such as FETs have a general suggested time
duration for tip contact.
Sensitive DIPS like surface mount ICs quite frequently are soldered
criss-cross like you'd do for tightening up the head bolts on an engine.

Another way of telling if your tip is too hot is by looking at your
joints with a magnifier.
Solder inspection in manufacturing is typically done under 14 power if I
remember right.
Get yourself one of those little eye-scopes.
You'll want to have one anyway.
Your joints should have a shiny look to them.
A technician can often tell if someone has been working on a pcb by
looking at the joints.
If they look dull or soupy looking, that is a sign if contaminated
solder, two many times re-heated, or a tip that is just too hot.

Joints from a tip not hot enough may look globby.

You could spend up to $200 on a surface probe for a DVM.
Digi-key sells one that is just a bead type for $10  TP-29-ND
I would check to make sure this comes with a conversion chart.
Most of them run negative coefficient.
Take a small piece of aluminum and drill a hole in it and squeeze some
thermal compound into it.
Then insert the thermo-resistor bead into it.
Then you can touch the solder tip to it and watch it come to temp.

Hope that helps.
N1BBR
dw

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