Printed Circuit Boards, or PCBs, contain several electronic components as well as connectors to interface with other devices. The components and connectors are installed on a board by soldering; a metal alloy called solder flux makes the connection. The solder flux is melted at the point of connection, then allowed to cool and solidify. Sometimes it is necessary to directly connect wires to specific points on the board. This can be done with a soldering iron.
Instructions
1 Turn the soldering iron on and set it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2 Strip off about 1/4 inch of insulation from the wire's end using wire strippers. Place the wire on a flat surface near the soldering iron with the stripped end facing you.
3 Hold the end of the soldering wire on the exposed end of the wire to be soldered and touch them at the same time with the tip of the soldering iron. The solder flux will melt and flow over the wire. As soon as you see that the solder has covered the stripped end of the wire, retract the solder wire and the soldering iron tip. Place the tip back in its holder.
4 Place the PCB on a flat and dry surface with the pad to which the wire is to be soldered facing up. Hold the solder wire on the pad and touch the wire and pad interface with the soldering iron tip. The solder will melt and cover the pad within two to three seconds. Retract the solder wire and put the soldering iron tip back in its holder.
5 Hold the wire to be soldered on the PCB pad you just worked on and touch it with the tip of the soldering iron. Keep the tip there until the solder flux on the wire has melted and merged with the solder flux on the pad. While holding the wire in its place, retract the soldering iron tip and put it back in its holder. As soon as you see that the solder flux has solidified, you can let the wire go. Repeat this process for each wire to be soldered.
