The Problem
There are a lot of cool applications where you need to embed small surface mount LEDs into things like clothing, jewelry, etc. In order to do so, you need an easy way to solder small magnet wire to the tiny LEDs. There have been other attempts at making this an easy process, but I have found nothing as simple, quick and easy as this new method.
The Solution - Duct Tape
The process is basically simple. We need to hold an SMT LED upside down so we can hand solder wires to it. The best way to hold the LED is to attach it to a piece of duct tape. Magnet wire (30 guage) is probably the best size for most applications. If you use two colors - one red, the other green, you can show the polarity of the LED during final assembly. If you don't use two colors, you will need some other way to mark the polarity.
Here are the steps:
Step 1:
Use masking tape to mount a square of duct tape upside-down (sticky side up) to a flat surface.
Step 2:
Set your LED upside-down on the duct tape and press to make sure it is firmly attached. To save time, you can mount several LEDs in one big column. Make sure each LED is facing the right way polarity-wise. The polarity is shown in the photo above.
Step 3:
Pre-tin your magnet wire ends. This is the most time consuming step. A solder pot would make it go much faster.
Step 4:
Add a small solder bead to each pad of the LEDs. Just a small dab is all that is needed.
Step 5:
Hold the magnet wire on the LED pad and heat with soldering iron. When the solder melts, remove the iron. Hold the wire steady until the solder solidifies. If you use a lighted magnifier to see better, this step is amazingly fast and easy, provided you have a steady hand.
All Done
When done soldering, the LED lifts easily from the tape and is ready to embed in your project. Don't forget to use current limiting resistor on your PCB or elsewhere for attaching the LEDs to.
There are a lot of cool applications where you need to embed small surface mount LEDs into things like clothing, jewelry, etc. In order to do so, you need an easy way to solder small magnet wire to the tiny LEDs. There have been other attempts at making this an easy process, but I have found nothing as simple, quick and easy as this new method.
The Solution - Duct Tape
The process is basically simple. We need to hold an SMT LED upside down so we can hand solder wires to it. The best way to hold the LED is to attach it to a piece of duct tape. Magnet wire (30 guage) is probably the best size for most applications. If you use two colors - one red, the other green, you can show the polarity of the LED during final assembly. If you don't use two colors, you will need some other way to mark the polarity.
Here are the steps:
Step 1:
Use masking tape to mount a square of duct tape upside-down (sticky side up) to a flat surface.
Step 2:
Set your LED upside-down on the duct tape and press to make sure it is firmly attached. To save time, you can mount several LEDs in one big column. Make sure each LED is facing the right way polarity-wise. The polarity is shown in the photo above.
Step 3:
Pre-tin your magnet wire ends. This is the most time consuming step. A solder pot would make it go much faster.
Step 4:
Add a small solder bead to each pad of the LEDs. Just a small dab is all that is needed.
Step 5:
Hold the magnet wire on the LED pad and heat with soldering iron. When the solder melts, remove the iron. Hold the wire steady until the solder solidifies. If you use a lighted magnifier to see better, this step is amazingly fast and easy, provided you have a steady hand.
All Done
When done soldering, the LED lifts easily from the tape and is ready to embed in your project. Don't forget to use current limiting resistor on your PCB or elsewhere for attaching the LEDs to.
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Well It's a simple single strand Copper wire used for transformer winding, and it's used for soldering SMD LEDs because it's very thin and undetected where ever the SMD LED is used.
For those who are looking to get these off the shelf, these guys hand make and sell them;
http://lumibug.tumblr.com/
Cheers.
where do you buy the magnet wire? and what is the advantage for using this?
The advantage as far as I am concerned is the small size. It is small enough to be used for jewelry purposes or threading through clothing. As one person commented, the joints aren't terribly strong, so care must be used until the assembly can be immobilized somehow.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036277
the site Instructables not know the French accents and the e de Montes need a one
but they are SMD (Surface Mount Device)
keep it up
Proper tinning of your parts (with a steady hand, thus limit your imbibing the night before), both component & wires or board and you should do just fine. Given my projects & age - shaky hands & forgetting about heat settings usually lead to ruined/bad installs.
SMD Surface Mount Device
A SMD uses SMT to be mounted, normally to a PCB (Printed Circuit board).
Thanks ProvideYourOwn, very helpful strutable!!
Thanks!
please also share this post here for me please:- http://technitute.com