LABC1 • 11
RAMSEY "Learn-As-You-Build KIT ASSEMBLY
There are numerous solder connections on the LABC1 printed circuit board.
Therefore, PLEASE take us seriously when we say that good soldering is
essential to the proper operation of your battery charger kit!
• Use a 25-watt soldering pencil with a clean, sharp tip.
• Use only rosin-core solder intended for electronics use.
• Use bright lighting; a magnifying lamp or bench-style magnifier may
be helpful.
Do your work in stages, taking breaks to check your work. Carefully brush
away wire cuttings so they don't lodge between solder connections.
We have a two-fold strategy for the order of the following kit assembly steps.
First, we install parts in physical relationship to each other, so there's minimal
chance of inserting wires into wrong holes. Second, whenever possible, we
install in an order that fits our "Learn-As-You Build" Kit building philosophy.
This entails describing the circuit that you are building, instead of just blindly
installing components. We hope that this will not only make assembly of our
kits easier, but help you to understand the circuit you’re constructing.
For each part, our word "Install" always means these steps:
1. Pick the correct component with the proper value to start with.
2. Insert it into the correct PC board location.
3. Orient it correctly, following the PC board drawing and the written
directions for all parts - especially when there's a right way
and a wrong way to solder it in. (Diode bands, electrolytic
capacitor polarity, transistor shapes, dotted or notched ends
of IC's, and so forth.)
4. Solder all connections unless directed otherwise. Use enough heat
and solder flow for clean, shiny, completed connections.
5. Trim or nip the excess component lead wire after soldering.
NOTE: Save some of the longer wire scraps nipped from resistors and
capacitors. These will be used to form wire jumpers (JMP1, etc.) to be
soldered in just like parts during these construction steps.
Enough of that ... let’s get started!