Olympus-OM
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [OM] Replacing lithium cells; Soldering delicate circuitry

Subject: Re: [OM] Replacing lithium cells; Soldering delicate circuitry
From: ClassicVW@xxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 23:39:24 EST
Ok, thanks for the info, Joe. I have both a soldering gun, and an iron which 
is supposed to be for these electronics. The cells do look like regular 3V 
lithiums in size, so that's what I'll be getting.

George S.


> It ought to work, if the lithium batteries will fit physically, without 
> stray electrical contacts being made.  The batteries used are probably a 
> standard size (like 2/3 of an "A" cell?).  Try looking at the Eveready 
> website <http://www.energizer.com> under the Technical Information button.  
> (It seems to require Internet Explorer.  When I use Netscape, the site 
> crashes my computer.)
> 
> 
> However, it's a common myth that one uses low heat for delicate things.  
> You should instead use a very hot iron, and get the job done as quickly as 
> possible.
> 
> The extreme case is soldering magnet wire to terminal pins moulded into 
> nylon coil forms -- if you don't use an 800-degree iron, the bobbin will 
> melt as you slowly heat the terminal pin.  Been there, done that.
> 
> I use an ancient Weller TCP-1 temperature-controlled soldering iron.  One 
> sets the temperature by using the correct tip.  No electronics are 
> involved.  I bought one after working at RCA in the mid 1960s, and seeing 
> them used on the production line.  This iron is now the basic unit in 
> Weller's TCP line.  
> 
> 600-degree tips are used for eutectic (37-63) solder
> 
> 700-degree tips are used for ordinary (40-60) solder
> 
> 800-degree tips are used for magnet wire (where one burns the insulating 
> varnish off and solders all at once).  I use 800-degree tips to solder 
> delicate things. This hot tip gets the solder terminal up to temperature as 
> fast as possible, reducing the amount of collateral heating, which is the 
> key issue.
> 
> A soldering *gun* may be hard on semiconductor eletronics, as the tip is 
> heated by passing a very large current through the tip, and this can induce 
> large currents in unexpected places.  Also, an iron solders more quickly 
> because the tip is already at temperature, and so its stored heat is 
> instantly available.
> 
> Joe
> 


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Sponsored by Tako
Impressum | Datenschutz