Prototype Board Use
Prep
Materials
- Prototype board
- Soldering iron and solder wire
- Extra wires
- Components you're connecting to the board
Prepare layout
- Think about how to make your layout efficient
- Sketch layout
Practice
- If you've never soldered before, practice on a few extra holes in your prototype board before you try it with your components
Soldering
The Basics
- Place the soldering iron in its stand and heat it to about 650 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Melt a little solder wire on the top of the soldering iron
- Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the component's wire, then touch the solder to the other side of the component's wire (the solder should melt around the hole the component's wire is in).
- As soon as there's a strong connection (it should only take a few seconds), remove the soldering iron tip from the wire.
Be careful with how long the tip is on the component, as components can overheat.
Tips for Prototype Boards
- To connect multiple components in series or parallel, drag the top of the soldering iron across the already-soldered holes.
- Put all the components in their places before starting to solder to make sure everything fits right. Then solder everything in place before connecting between components.
TO BE CONTINUED
