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FrozenGate by Avery

Need help with diode soldering.

A

Anthony16r

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Feb 20, 2010
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Hi everyone, I just wanted to know what is the fastest way to solder a laser diode to a driver because i'm really afraid of killing the diode because of overheating?
Like what to tin first ect...

I've searched on the forum already by the way, but really couldn't find what i need.

BTW, not really related but: Are Latex gloves suffisent to avoid ESD? If not, how can i avoid them without necessarily buying something like a wrist wrap?

Thank you in advance.
-Anthony.
 
Last edited:





you can make a home made wrist strap from some wire and a bit of aluminum foil.

Latex gloves are insulators, and will actually increase the chances of static discharge.

just put some aluminum foil around your wrist, strip off about a foot of insulation on some old speaker wire, or old extension cord.

Attach one end to a known earth ground, and wrap the long stripped end around your wrist over the foil, twist the wire mildly tight, (not so much it's uncomfortable, but not loose either. You can even tape it down. It may look goofy, but it will get the job done.

practice soldering on some scrap wires, with a few practice joints under your belt, you will find soldering is not that hard.
 
Hi Anthony,

Regards pre-tinning, most diodes used in builds here are going to be harvested ones so the pins on your diode are more likely than not going to have a thin layer of solder on them already. Pre-tinning any wires you're going to attach should be standard practice for any build anyway so the upshot of what I'm saying is pre-tin everything unless you're soldering to a quality PCB. I even tend to pre-tin any PCB connections too, just to be sure.

ESD is a funny one. Some diodes are more suseptible than others. BR diodes are known to be much more sensitive and, so I've learned recently, ESD can even kill a diode from your soldering iron so an ESD protected iron would help here. The only real protection for your own ESD is a wrist strap but essentially this is just a connection to earth so it could be argued that simply wrapping wire around your ankle and the other end to the water pipes in your house would be sufficient, (assuming they are metal and earthed to the electrical system as they are in the UK). I don't necessarily recommend that BTW! Edit: although Photonaholic seems to think it is fine as he posted just before me! :)

I couldn't answer you specifically as to whether latex gloves would offer protection but I suspect not fully.

Hope that's helpul.

M
:)
 
Thanks to both. Photonaholic, I know how to solder and I have soldered for many projects but I'm new to lasers and I know that laser diodes are extra sensitive to heat. That's why I'm uncomfortable with it, and wanna know how to be as brief as possible.
Plus I will be using a blu ray diode and I know they're said to be especialy sensitive to ESD, like Morgan said, that's why I was focused on them.
 
Just quickly pre-tin your LD connections and your Driver connections
with a good Flux Core Solder....
Then solder one pin and let it cool down before soldering the next..
If you live in a modern house that has the 3 pin AC receptacles in
the walls then the center screw holding the cover is grounded...
Your desktop computer case usually has a galvanized raw metal back
plate that is also grounded .
Just before you solder a connection... just touch one if these Grounded
spots to discharge any residual static you may have accumulated...


Jerry
 
@Jerry, (Hi BTW), would touching any of these earthed points also work for a soldering iron that is not ESD protected? Can't see why it wouldn't but thought I'd ask directly.

M
:)
 
Yes I have those types of plugs and my iron has a 3 prong plug, then it should be esd protected.
 
Just a suggestion ..... if you're afraid about your soldering skill, the better way to take care of this, is exercise .....

Just get fom some old circuits or dumpsters some PCB, where you can find 3 pins transistors, desolder and cut them in the same lenght and size of your LD, then use the old PCBs, or pieces of it, for make exercise, trying to solder them, as if they are LDs, on the borders of the PCB (as usually are soldered diodes) .....

No matter if they're good or not, all that what you need, here, is to have some elements to solder as exercise, that have the same pins lenght and shape of a LD, so you can see how much time you need for do it, and find, with a bit of trial, the better system for do it in the better way, without kill your LDs .....

..... just my half cent ;) :D
 
Morgan said:
@Jerry, (Hi BTW), would touching any of these earthed points also work for a soldering iron that is not ESD protected? Can't see why it wouldn't but thought I'd ask directly.

M
:)
Click to expand...

No... I wouldn't recommend it... you will need a soldering iron that is
specifically designed for ESD protection with a 3 prong AC chord plug.

Just rubbing against the electrical cord of your Non-ESD protected Iron
could accumulate a charge.. even after you may have just discharged it..
besides the tip is (temperature) hot...
If you really want to play safe... you need to invest in a Proper ESD
protected Iron...IMHO ;)

Jerry
 
HIMNL9 said:
Just a suggestion ..... if you're afraid about your soldering skill, the better way to take care of this, is exercise .....

Just get fom some old circuits or dumpsters some PCB, where you can find 3 pins transistors, desolder and cut them in the same lenght and size of your LD, then use the old PCBs, or pieces of it, for make exercise, trying to solder them, as if they are LDs, on the borders of the PCB (as usually are soldered diodes) .....

No matter if they're good or not, all that what you need, here, is to have some elements to solder as exercise, that have the same pins lenght and shape of a LD, so you can see how much time you need for do it, and find, with a bit of trial, the better system for do it in the better way, without kill your LDs .....

..... just my half cent ;) :D
Click to expand...

I agree with HIMNL9, just make replicas of a driver and get the practice from those replicas. It is a very good idea:gj: And just want to thank photonaholic for bringing me into this thread. :D thanks
 
lasersbee said:
No... I wouldn't recommend it... you will need a soldering iron that is
specifically designed for ESD protection with a 3 prong AC chord plug.

Just rubbing against the electrical cord of your Non-ESD protected Iron
could accumulate a charge.. even after you may have just discharged it..
besides the tip is (temperature) hot...
If you really want to play safe... you need to invest in a Proper ESD
protected Iron...IMHO ;)

Jerry
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerry, I thought that might be the case! Damn, more expense! When will it ever stop?!!!

Threadjack over. Sorry...

M
:)
 
photonaholic said:
Never, or sometime shortly after your children pay the inheritance tax on your estate.
Click to expand...

Right, that's it. I'm posting in the B/S/T section: FS / One secondhand, but otherwise in good condition, kid! Any offers welcome, need quick sale! :crackup:

If there are any child welfare people out there, I'm only joking . I don't have any kids! My bad?

M
:)
 
Morgan said:
Thanks Jerry, I thought that might be the case! Damn, more expense! When will it ever stop?!!!

Threadjack over. Sorry...

M
:)
Click to expand...
I use a Weller soldering station that cost $200.00 way back
when... It has been almost used daily for 20 years and is still
going strong... that's $10.00 / Year...;)

Now they are about $120.00...


Jerry
 
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