Soldering an SMT MOSFET Driver with a hotplate

Soldering SMD components isn't as hard as you might think. In fact it's easy.

If you follow this instructables you'll soon see just what great results you can obtain at home using just a hotplate.
It's not just being able to make small circuit boards that makes SMT soldering so good it's also a nicer way to solder. All the 'hard' work is in placing the components. You then only need to reflow the solder for about 5-7 minutes and your done.

No more long soldering sessions spent hunched over a hot soldering iron breathing in all those fumes.

All you need is the PCB, some solder paste, the SMD components and a hotplate.
If you'd like a kit that includes the PCB, components and solder paste then follow this link
SMD MOSFET Driver Kit 
  
More information is available at
www.CarbonFrog.com

Step 1: Gather all the parts

Gather and identify all the parts, remove packaging and lay out ready to be placed on the board.

Make sure you know which resistor is which, they are each marked as shown.

Also ensure that the diode will go in the correct way round. The cathode, the end you want connected to the positive rail, is marked with a line.

Comments

[vimes79]

I bought a few of these kits when I first needed to do some 0603 solder work just to test out the paste I was using and to try using both my Hot air station and the DIY hotplate method. Both worked very well and I have done alot of tiny SMD soldering since using both the above mentioned methods and a DIY re-flow oven made from a toaster (you can find a couple of Indestructible s on how to make one of those). Personally I prefer using my hot air station with a small width nozzle and low air flow and a very fine pair of soldering tweezers, but the hot plate method is great for small PCB's like this one.
It is a fantastic little kit even if you are never going to actully use it as its a brilliant introduction into the world of SMD solder work and rework.
Highly recommended!
As a side note the paste that comes with this kit is some of the best I have used, it really is good stuff and the little vial contains enough to do about 10 of these kits so hold onto it once your done as you never know when you might need some again and it saves having to buy a 5g syringe full (which is about the smallest amount you can buy).