[Elecraft] RE reflow solder K-pod power resistor

[Edward R Cole]

How I install SMD chip components is:

First tin one pad on the pcb with the iron (a little solder applied 
before touching the pad is enough).
Then using a pair of jewelers tweezers hold the SMD component on the 
surface the pcb close to the tinned pad but not touching it.
Apply your tinned solder iron tip to the pad and carefully slide the 
component onto the pad so it touches the tip of the iron.
Hold briefly then remove the iron while holding the component in position.

If it soldered to the pcb it will not move when you remove the tweezers.

Now solder the other end of the component using the iron with a 
little solder applied (briefly); the solder should flow nicely.
Remove the iron.

Go back to the original end of the of the component and solder it 
using a little solder; It will flow as well.

Now it is properly installed.
You can check to see if solder shorted across by using a ohmmeter in 
continuity mode.

If you are unlucky and solder shorted across the component, you will 
need two solder iron to remove the component without breaking it.
Use of solder wick will remove the solder bridge after the component 
is removed, and then you start all over from the beginning.

GL.

I assembled twelve DEMI transverters and eight 2m amplifier kits last 
year, so have some experience doing SMD.

73, Ed - KL7UW

Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2016 19:03:19 -0500
From: "Bob Novas" <bob.novas at verizon.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Elecraft] reflow solder K-pod power resistor
Message-ID: <03c201d25fd4$a1f5c630$e5e15290$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

I successfully reflow soldered the surface mount 6.8 ohm resistor across R82
in my K3S today. It took me a while to get my courage up, but it worked out
well.



In the kind of reflow soldering I used, you melt some solder and flux on the
tip of a temperature controlled iron, and then, while holding the SMD part
to be soldered to the board in its final location, touch the iron tip to the
surface mount part one one side and then the other until it heats up and
solder flows (the "reflow").  It's hard to hold everything perfectly still,
but you can take a couple cracks at it until you get it right.



Bob - W3DK


73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
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