[Elecraft] soldering SMD's

[Bill Frantz]

Here are the instructions from some other kits:

Install surface-mount inductor L3. Pre-tin the inductor pads on 
the PC board sparingly with solder before installing the part. 
Place this component on the two pad locations and restrain 
carefully in place with tweezers. Tack one end down with the 
soldering iron, solder the other end sparingly, and retouch the 
end originally tacked down. Good component alignment is 
important to ensure that there are no short-circuits- check your 
work carefully for solder bridges.

U1 Installation: It's important to install the Surface-mount IC 
(U1) first- it's more difficult to install when surrounded by 
other components. Remove U1 from its protective packaging and 
place it over the pads on the board. Do not pre-tin the pads. 
'Tack' down one of the IC corner pins while holding the device 
down with a fingertip. Move to the opposite side of the IC and 
solder all pins down. Note: it's easiest to use an excess of 
solder and remove the excess with solder-wick. (Solder the 
second group of 4 pins and wick as needed.

I have built both kits and had no problems. I didn't use solder 
wick on the 8 pin U1 chip, just careful use of a narrow chisel 
soldering iron tip and thin solder. I use a temperature 
controlled, ESD safe soldering station.

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

On 11/15/12 at 3:51 AM, ve3wdm at hotmail.com (Mike Weir) wrote:

>I ordered K6XX's CW indicating light for my Elecraft k2 and it 
>has some (resistors and caps) SMD's  I am going to have to work 
>with. I have been reading on the internet about ways to instal 
>these comments. I have read about using solder paste as this 
>helps to place them and kinds steady’s them while soldering. 
>Any thoughts on this method?? The only SMD work I did was on my 
>K3 with the DC mod for powering the P3 with the K3. The 
>soldering job was not pretty at all any input on soldering 
>SMD's would be appreciated. Mike
>VE3WDM
>http://ve3wdm.blogspot.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        | If the site is supported by  | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506      | ads, you are the product.    | 16345 
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com |                              | Los Gatos, 
CA 95032