Proper soldering is key to a quality final product. If you are new to soldering, here are some
basic guidelines to follow. It would be wise to buy a copper project board and a few cheap
resistors or other components to practice with before starting this project.
Soldering and Solder Joints:
- For best results and maximum conductivity of any component, Wipe each lead down using Scotch Bright. Only one
or two passes are required, making sure all of the surface has been cleaned. This removes oxidation or any other build up
on the metal that has accumulated over time. Once cleaned, it is a good idea the further clean the wire leads with 90%
isopropyl alcohol. Make sure all alcohol has evaporated prior to soldering as alcohol is VERY FLAMMABLE.
- Do not use to much or to little solder on each joint. See images below to get an idea of what you should be looking for
- The idea is to heat the pad and the component wire lead quickly and efficiently so that solder flows to each equally.
Wetting the tip of your iron with a very small amount of solder will aid in quickly heating up the pad and wire lead.
- Having to heat the component for long periods of time, especially capacitors is not a good thing. When soldering
capacitors, heat them only long enough to ensure a quality joint and let the unit cool down for a few minutes before
soldering the other side (especially on small capacitors)
- The solder joint should look bright and metallic. A dull or dark gray looking joint is referred to as a
“cold solder joint” Cold solder joints may not pose a problem initially, but can show up later in the amps life.
- After every solder joint, make sure to clean the flux off your soldering iron tip with a wet sponge that should be
provided with your soldering iron kit.
SOLDER
PAD
PCB
CUTAWAY WIRE
LEAD
PROPER SOLDER JOINT:
- Solder is bright and shiny. It is curved
smoothly starting at the edge of the solder
pad until it reaches the lead from the
component
- Solder should fill the via and flow through
the board slightly. It is ok to add solder to
the top side of the board, however it is not
required
CUTAWAY OF A VIA AND SOLDER PAD
PRIOR TO SOLDERING:
IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT:
- A large blob of solder, often dull in color is
not desired. The solder may not flow into
the via hole and cause a poor connection
or failure later in the amplifiers life.
VIA / HOLE
Bottom Chassis Prep / Final Chassis Assembly:
ASSEMBLE EACH OF THE 4 RUBBERFEET AS
SHOWN, ATTACHING EACH FOOT TO THE GRAY
SMOKEDACRYLICBOTTOM CHASSIS
THUMB SCREW
STANDOFF
PCB
GRAY ACRYLICBOTTOM
CLEAR ACRYLIC TOP
- ONCE THE PCB HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED,
SET IT ONTO THE FOUR THREADS
STICKING OUT OF THE BOTTOMGRAY
ACRYLICCHASSIS THAT YOU
PREVIOUSLY ASSEMBLED.
- THREAD ON EACHOF THE FOUR HEX
STANDOFFS ONTO THE THREADS THAT
ARE NOW PROTRUDING THROUGHTHE
PCB, SECURINGTHE PCB TO THE GRAY
ACRYLICCHASSIS BOTTOM. PROCEED
TO POWER ON THE UNIT (AS DESCRIBED
ON PAGE 2, WEARING EYE PROTECTION
ANDATA SAFE DISTANCE IN CASE OF A
MISTAKE IN ASSEMBLY)
- ONCE THE AMPLIFIERS FUNCTIONALITY
HAS BEEN TESTED ANDTHE UNIT HAS
HADA CHANCE TOFULLY WARM UP FOR
30 MINUTES, SET THE BIAS AS
DESCRIBEDLATER INTHIS MANUAL
BEFORE PLACING THE TOP CLEAR
ACRYLICCOVER IN PLACE
THREADED SPACER
RUBBERFOOT
NYLON WASHER
4-40 BUTTON CAP SCREW
GRAY ACRYLICBOTTOM
TOP OF PCB TOP OF PCBTOP OF PCB
THREADED SPACER
