How to Easily Solder Wires to SMT LEDs
Intro: How to Easily Solder Wires to SMT LEDs
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.
32 Comments
Johin_Manning_1985 7 years ago
Can anyone give me some advice on which is the best soldering iron to use for this project?
This is what I am looking at right now…
marciokoko 8 years ago
oh wait! If magnet wire was,ia net zed t would be awesome!
Ralphxyz 11 years ago
SMD Surface Mount Device
A SMD uses SMT to be mounted, normally to a PCB (Printed Circuit board).
Thanks ProvideYourOwn, very helpful strutable!!
Yonatan24 8 years ago
"strutable"?
Ralphxyz 8 years ago
zack247 11 years ago
MerlinMakes 10 years ago
me thinks this field's (electronics) purpose in life is to make abbreviations.... AVR, SOIC, IC, MC, SMD, SMT, PCB, DIP switches, AC, DC, it's no wonder it's so bloody hard to actualy learn this stuff. it's written in marsian.
Nobin 11 years ago
KevinAlien26 11 years ago
sreeci 11 years ago
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.
KevinAlien26 11 years ago
blounsb999 11 years ago
killbox 11 years ago
avengine 11 years ago
where do you buy the magnet wire? and what is the advantage for using this?
ApprenticeWizard 11 years ago
ProvideYourOwn 11 years ago
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.
sdudley 11 years ago
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036277
michaelmacnz 11 years ago
Mic100 11 years ago
the site Instructables not know the French accents and the e de Montes need a one
Mic100 11 years ago