Tips and Tricks for noobs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Dokroma
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2020, 10:44:40 am
content: Hi, does anyone have something like a list of tips and tricks they have compiled? I am new to electronics and I have made one, some things might not make sense since I made it only for me to understand since I didn't intend on sharing it. Also the numbers next to the points are the dates when I added them since sometimes I get paranoid I didn't add anything when I had intended to; the dates just reaffirm to me that I didn't forget to add those points. Also, some things may be wrong since I am very new to electronics and I don't know much:if no continuity, take fingernail and drag along wire, you will feel finger catch on weak point. Pull the weak point apart and then use shrink/tube to reconnect. -27/6Wiggle test for wiresTin the ends of exposed stranded wire to fit into holes more easilyGold plated probes multimeterWPI Workpiece Indicator - 2/7Wetting actionNo pressure on PCB when soldering, light featherCross solder IC i.e solder pin 1 and 9 then 8 and 16 then do all the pins inbetweenSolder IC socket first then connect the ICPretin solder pads on PCB to make soldering small components and wires easieradd a temporary heatsink like tweezers, pliers etc. for heat sensitive componentstest soldering stations for ESD safety by putting one probe on earth pin and one on the soldering iron, multimeter should beepThe two protrusions on the back of a multimeter are for storing probes - 3/7Dont use threadlocker liquid as they will ruin earthing connection 4/7Use wire stripper tool to cut screws, make sure to thread on washer and remove it after cutting to correct the screw thrads 5/7Check equipment yearly to make sure batteries haven't leaked 6/7Soldering station(most things specific to KSGER):Keep at around 310deg, higher can cause oxidization on whole tipWhen tinning tip, wrap solder all around tip, lay iron horizontally and let the solder drip onto spongeConnect case to earth pin with a screw and washer or whatever, make sure you scratch off anodization around screwRemove anodization of countersinksRemove anodization of front jacks/plugs by scratching off paint on the part of case they make contact withMake sure there is continuity between front jacks/plugs and earthMove heatsink up so that it is held by spacers, also apply thermal paste to components being protected by heatsink.Grind off part of heatsink that's making contact with HV line near capacitorUse kaptom tape?Replace mains fuse with a 2A fuseVinyl insulation for case?Rotary encoder tabs not folded properly?Wire negative of back switch lightU can install resistor to earth path but some say don'tRemove R10, draining battery OR fold down tabs of knob so they don't short itScore PCB green near HV and LW connections that are close to eachother and then directly connect scored PCB traces/lines with wireFor 9501 handle, swap blue and white wires in iron to fix shake to wake Correct wiring is 1=blue, 2=white, 3=green, 4=Black, 5=Red.If station keeps resetting, turn off buzzer. issue due to insufficient capacitors, diode spike suppressionMight have to replace large mains capacitor, might be brokenRemove time quartz so that temperature is displayed?Might have to switch around plug jacks at back(Did I mean wires?)When calibrating, let flux burn off (no smoke) for accurate tempKeep tips at 350 for one hour before calibratingMake sure leads are clipped on the bottom of PCBEdge mounted joint from mains socket to PCB - Multiple unpluggings and pluggings will break solder joints, replace them with wires insteadplastic case might be too small for large capacitor, you can grind down pcb support screws or file down plasticIf screen too dim, remove black coveringwhen measuring earthing with continuity, make sure black probe is on earth pin and red probe is everywhere elsezinc countersunk screws?Measure the tip's resistance, should be at around 8ohm I thinkBack red switch might be flipped wrong way aroundMy soldering station I will make:Mains fusePower switch two pole?Thermal runeaway protectionTip short protectionProper HV and LV isolationGood quality silicone? cablesGood quality handleSwappable tipsProper strain reliefRubber standsWraparound case with slots for tools, sponges, tips etc.Proper case insulationThermal compound on heatsinksClean off all the fluxGood quality material for heating up ironProper fusing with high ohm resistors tooSecure adjustable knobShake to wakeBeeperStandbySleep ModeLow voltage protectionBrightness settingsBoost modeRoom TemperatureLow current timeTip calibratorError messagesAuto power offSplashscreenParasitic drain avoidKeep PCB on brass stands off the casecable clamp for mains wire? (Like hakko)My multimeter:Off position at topAuto turn-offAmps on left side, starts with amps, then ma then ua to avoid blowing fuses while probes connectedGold plated probes on banana plugs and tipsThick temperature tester attachmentNon latching continuity:Sandpaper lightlyClean with IPAHot snot: Solidified hot glueMouse bite: breakaway tabsIron temps:- 260 for SMD- 300 for PCB electronics- 340 for components with thicker leads- 380 for heavier work with more mass or heat conductiontying solder around finger?both ends negative, middle pozzy for switchessolder up the postIf shortening wires only need to screw out one side of green terminalHold leads when cutting so they dont fly in your face or cover them with palm then snip themwhen soldering thing like speaker cable dont expose too much wire solder closely to terminalwhen stripping wire use the bottom hole of those blue pliers if you dont have stripperspoke soldering iron tip through a hole that previously had solder on it to make an opening by moving the old solder to the edge of the holetwist wires around to make more neatyou dont have to split speaker wires completelyover under method for cablespcb stuffztin whiskersno clean flux vs rosin corepcb strain relief holeuse a 45 and 90 degree corner mix. so a 90 degree but with a 45 cut?isolate HV and LV parts of circuit with gaps, etc and keep connections seperatethings to salvage:cables, ac adaptars, coils, relays, heatsinks, capacitors, motor, switches, push button, transistor, screws, transformer, voltage regulators, power resistors, 2 watts or higher, flameproof, ceramic etc, battery holdersMistakes I made:Not knowing to tin iron when first turning onNot knowing how to use fluxNot buying rosin core solder not just 60/40 without coreBuying cheap stuffNext time buy quality parts e.gget a soldering stationget Third hand with magnifying glassget good multimeter with a good kit not cheap toolsget Good fan not one that drains fastget good screwdriver drill set not multiple cheap onesget a good japanese solder suckerget a good butane torchget good vernier calipers not cheap onesget adjustable esd strap not fixed oneget eutectic solderget no clean flux pen

author: SmokedComponent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2020, 03:04:33 pm
content: Just some quick tips that have bit me in the *ss in the past:- if you accidentally drop DIP IC somewhere under the bench, do NOT immediately go down to your knees before looking- do not suddenly reposition your soldering station/hot air tool once you've become accustomed to reach for and stove them without looking- if you buy cheap/ebay soldering station and/or hot air tool, have a steel bucket under your bench, where you can safely throw them once they start glowing orange,- keep flux pen, solder paste and burn gel in the fridge

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2020, 05:34:24 pm
content: I really couldn't read through that wall of text completely but have a few things to consider:Having a good quality tools like calipers is a good thing, however there are good uses for cheap or clapped out calipers. So a theme that will repeat itself is that more than one of many tools is a good thing. In his case cheap calipers, are good for scribing and layout work that might damage expensive high quality ones.When it comes to soldering irons; more than one is also something you will eventually want. One of these should be a portable iron, either battery or gas operated for use away from the bench.There are few things that you have to commit solidly to memory but two that have made a huge difference to me is learning Ohms law and the relationship of the various parameters. The second item is learning the resistor color code. For the rest get a good handbook, use that until the frequently used stuff is also committed to memory.Though not electronics per say, understand digital systems and concepts like logic gates and the basic math behind digital logic. By the way I say "not electronics per say" because if you get into controls you might find your self dealing with pneumatic logic. Pneumatic logic is actually pretty neat instead of printed circuit boards you have thick boards with holes and channels milled in them instead of copper traces.Tinning wires for use in terminal strips has been replaced by the use of wire ferrules.Keep a list of tools and instruments you have on your cell phone. Why? If you happen upon an auction, estate sale or other opportunity you will know if that bargain sitting in front of you will help fill out your tool collection. This can help your resist inflating you tool collection with duplicates and stuff not needed. Or do the reverse and keep a list of things that you need. Incredible bargains can be had.DO NOT throw out paper books and manuals.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2020, 05:49:37 pm
content: 1: understand the theory of how something is supposed to work2: understand the ways in which something can fail3: think4: be prepared