How To Solder Like a PRO | FPV Drone Building Tutorial

How to Solder 12 to 28 AWG Wire to Flight

Control, ESCs, and Power Distribution Boards

Below are instructions for the soldering techniques I use when building an FPV Drone. Learning how to solder the right way will make your components last longer, and will make your drones more durable in crashes. There are multiple ways to solder, and if you find something that works for you stick with it. These instructions are meant to be a guide for builders to use as a starting point. If you find that you need to tweak these instructions slightly to achieve great looking solder joints, I encourage you to keep doing it your way.

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Table Of Contents

Use this Table Of Contents to skip to the soldering task you require. In each task you will find a list of tools and consumables needed, as well as a video tutorial for clarification.

HOW TO SOLDER 22-28 AWG

HOW TO SOLDER 18-20 AWG

HOW TO SOLDER 12-16 AWG

HOW TO CLEAN SOLDER JOINTS

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HOW TO SOLDER 22-28 AWG WIRE TO SMALL PADS

Tools:

1. Soldering Iron (TS100)

2. Soldering iron tip (TS-B2)

3. Heat Resistant Solder Mat

4. Fun-Tak

5. Smoke Extractor

6. Brass Wool

7. Jewelers Tweezers

8. Toothbrush

Consumables:

1. Solder (Kester 60/40 Sn/Pb)

2. Flux Pen

3. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol

4. Paper Towels

PREP THE WIRE FOR SOLDERING (22-28 AWG)

1. Install the TS-B2 (or equivalent) and preheat Soldering Iron to 380C (716F)
   

2. Secure wires with helping hands or Fun-TAK
   

3. BE CAREFUL: Exposing too much wire can lead to shorting wires and causing damage to components. PRO-TIP: Only expose enough wire to fit on the soldering pad. Remove the insulation from the end of the wire.
   

4. HAZARD: Breathing solder fumes is hazardous to your health. It is recommended to solder in an open area with a smoke extractor. Turn on the smoke extractor.
   

5. Clean the tip of the soldering iron with the brass wool.
   

6. Add a small amount of solder to the tip of the soldering iron.
   

7. Touch the solder on the tip of the soldering iron to the exposed wire.
   

8. PRO-TIP: There should not be a ball of solder on the end of the exposed wire. Lightly press the solder to the soldering iron, sandwiching the exposed wire between the soldering iron and solder.

PREP THE SOLDER PADS FOR WIRES (22-28 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis). Apply a liberal amount of flux to the solder pads.
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. PRO-TIP: Rotate the soldering iron and apply the solder to the bottom of the tip where it will be contacting the solder pad. Apply a small amount of solder to the tip of the preheated soldering iron.
   

4. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the solder pad, covering about half of the pad. At the same time, touch the solder to the other half of the solder pad and slide it into the solder tip.

SOLDER WIRES TO PADS (22-28 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis). Apply a liberal amount of flux to the prepped solder pads.
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. PRO-TIP: Rotate the soldering iron and apply the solder to the bottom of the tip that will be contacting the solder pad. Apply a small amount of solder to the tip of the preheated soldering iron.
   

4. Grab the wire with the jewelers tweezers and position the exposed portion of the wire directly on top of the prepped solder pad.
   

5. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. PRO-TIP: Do not blow on the solder joint to cool it off. Let it cool on its own. Press the wire into the soldering pad with the soldering iron. Pull the soldering iron off the pad and keep the wire in position with the tweezers.

CONTINUE

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Task: SOLDER 18-20 AWG WIRES TO PADS

(Video coming soon)

Task Requirements:

Tools:

1. Soldering Iron (TS100)

2. Soldering iron tip (TS-BC2)

3. Heat Resistant Solder Mat

4. Fun-Tak

5. Smoke Extractor

6. Brass Wool

7. Jewelers Tweezers

8. Toothbrush

Consumables:

1. Solder (Kester 60/40 Sn/Pb)

2. Flux Pen

3. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol

4. Paper Towels

PREP THE WIRE FOR SOLDERING (18-20 AWG)

1. Install the TS-BC2 (or equivalent) soldering iron tip and preheat Soldering Iron to 425C (797F)
   

2. Secure wires with helping hands or Fun-TAK
   

3. BE CAREFUL: Exposing too much wire can lead to shorting wires and causing damage to components. PRO-TIP: Only expose enough wire to fit on the soldering pad. Remove the insulation from the end of the wire.
   

4. PRO-TIP: Twisting exposed wire will keep small strands from bridging adjacent pads and solder joints.
   

5. Twist the exposed wire.
   

6. HAZARD: Breathing solder fumes is hazardous to your health. It is recommended to solder in an open area with a smoke extractor. Turn on the smoke extractor.
   

7. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

8. Add a small amount of solder to the flat area of the of the soldering iron tip.
   

9. Touch the flat area of the soldering iron tip to the tip of the exposed wire.
   

10. PRO-TIP: There should not be a ball of solder on the end of the exposed wire. While maintaining contact between the flat area of the soldering iron and the exposed wire, feed the solder into the crack between the tip and the wire.

Subtask: PREP THE SOLDER PADS FOR WIRES (18-20 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis) Apply a liberal amount of flux to the solder pads.
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. Add a small amount of solder to the flat area of the of the preheated soldering iron tip.
   

4. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. Touch the flat area of the soldering iron to the solder pad, covering about half of the pad. At the same time, touch the solder to the other half of the solder pad and slide it into the solder tip.

Subtask: SOLDER WIRES TO PADS (18-20 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis) Apply a liberal amount of flux to the prepped solder pads
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. PRO-TIP: Rotate the soldering iron and apply the solder to the bottom of the tip that will be contacting the solder pad. Apply a small amount of solder to flat area of the preheated soldering iron tip.
   

4. Grab the wire with the cross lock tweezers and position the exposed portion of the wire directly on top of the prepped solder pad.
   

5. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. PRO-TIP: Do not blow on the solder joint to cool it off. Let it cool on its own. Press the wire into the soldering pad with the soldering iron. Pull the soldering iron off the pad and keep the wire in position with the tweezers.

CONTINUE

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HOW TO SOLDER 12-16 AWG WIRES TO PADS

(Video coming soon)

Tools:

1. Soldering Iron (TS100)

2. Soldering iron tip (TS-C4)

3. Heat Resistant Solder Mat

4. Fun-Tak

5. Smoke Extractor

6. Brass Wool

7. Jewelers Tweezers

8. Toothbrush

Consumables:

1. Solder (Kester 60/40 Sn/Pb)

2. Flux Pen

3. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol

4. Paper Towels

PREP THE WIRE FOR SOLDERING (12-16 AWG)

1. Install the TS-B2 (or equivalent) and preheat Soldering Iron to 450 C (842F)
   

2. Secure wires with helping hands or Fun-TAK
   

3. BE CAREFUL: Exposing too much wire can lead to shorting wires and causing damage to components. PRO-TIP: Only expose enough wire to fit on the soldering pad. Remove the insulation from the end of the wire.
   

4. PRO-TIP: Twisting exposed wire will keep small strands from bridging adjacent pads and solder joints. Twist the exposed wire.
   

5. HAZARD: Breathing solder fumes is hazardous to your health. It is recommended to solder in an open area with a smoke extractor. Turn on the smoke extractor.
   

6. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

7. Add a small amount of solder to the flat area of the of the soldering iron tip.
   

8. Touch the flat area of the soldering iron tip to the tip of the exposed wire.
   

9. PRO-TIP: There should not be a ball of solder on the end of the exposed wire. While maintaining contact between the flat area of the soldering iron and the exposed wire, feed the solder into the crack between the tip and the wire.
   

PREP THE SOLDER PADS FOR WIRES (12-16 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis). Apply a liberal amount of flux to the solder pads.
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. Add a small amount of solder to the flat area of the of the preheated soldering iron tip.
   

4. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. Touch the flat area of the soldering iron to the solder pad, covering about half of the pad. At the same time, touch the solder to the other half of the solder pad and slide it into the solder tip.

SOLDER WIRES TO PADS (12-16 AWG)

1. HAZARD: Rosin flux is Flammable. Keep away from open flames. When heated, rosin flux gives off fumes that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma or respiratory problems. Frequent or prolonged skin contact may cause a skin rash (dermatitis) Apply a liberal amount of flux to the prepped solder pads
   

2. Clean the tip of the soldering iron in the brass wool.
   

3. PRO-TIP: Rotate the soldering iron and apply the solder to the bottom of the tip that will be contacting the solder pad. Apply a small amount of solder to flat area of the preheated soldering iron tip.
   

4. Grab the wire with the cross lock tweezers and position the exposed portion of the wire directly on top of the prepped solder pad.
   

5. BE CAREFUL: Holding the soldering iron tip against the solder pad for too long can cause the pad to lift off the board and become unusable. PRO-TIP: Do not blow on the solder joint to cool it off. Let it cool on its own. Press the wire into the soldering pad with the soldering iron. Pull the soldering iron off the pad and keep the wire in position with the tweezers.

CONTINUE

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HOW TO CLEAN FINISHED SOLDER JOINTS

1. HAZARD: Isopropyl alcohol is flammable and causes extreme eye irritation. Keep away from the nose and mouth. Do not consume. PRO-TIP: Only clean the board with alcohol once you have completed all soldering you intend to do. Dip the toothbrush in the alcohol and lightly scrub solder joints.
   

2. Pat the cleaned area dry with a clean paper towel.