Soldering to a printed circuit board (PCB) has several advantages over point-to-point wiring. The premade board ensures all circuit paths are correct and allows the circuit to be quickly and easily assembled and mounted. Almost all mass-produced electronic circuits today are fabricated on a PCB. Soldering to a PCB is one of the easier forms of soldering, as components can be mounted to the board, keeping them steady while soldering. Instructions 1 Allow the soldering iron to heat to the correct temperature. The ideal temperature range for working with a printed circuit board is between 626 degrees Fahrenheit and 662 degrees Fahrenheit. Once hot enough to melt the solder, apply a generous amount of solder directly to the tip and wipe clean on a damp sponge. This is known as "tinning" the tip. 2 Clean both sides of the printed circuit board with a soap-free scouring pad. Rinse off any debris with a quick acetone rinse. 3 Place component leads into the proper holes on the PCB. The body of the component should sit as flush with the board surface as possible. Components such as resistors and capacitors have long leads that can be bent at 45-degree angles to hold the component in place. Integrated circuits and other components with short leads can be held in place with a piece of masking tape. 4 Apply the tip of the soldering iron to one side of the joint formed by the lead and the circuit board. Allow the joint to heat for a few seconds. 5 Apply solder directly to the joint on the side opposite the soldering iron. Avoid touching the solder directly to the tip, and allow the heat transferred to the joint to melt it. You want enough solder to coat the entire joint, but always strive to use the least amount of solder possible to create the cleanest connections. 6 Solder all of a component's leads; trim them back with a pair of wire cutters. 7 Wipe the tip of the iron on a damp sponge after each joint is soldered.
