Ramsey Electronics Phone Patch Mixer Kit PPM3 - Manual (Page 8)

PPM3 Page 8
RAMSEY “LEARN-AS-YOU-BUILD” ASSEMBLY STRATEGY
Be sure to read through all of the steps, and check the boxes as you go to
be sure you didn't miss any important steps. Although you may be in a hurry
to see results, before you switch on the power check all wiring and
capacitors for proper orientation. Also check the board for any possible
solder shorts, and/or cold solder joints. All of these mistakes could have
detrimental effects to your kit - not to mention your ego!
Kit building tips:
Use a good soldering technique - let your soldering iron tip gently heat the
traces to which you are soldering, heating both wires and pads
simultaneously. Apply the solder to the iron and the pad when the pad is hot
enough to melt the solder. The finished joint should look like a drop of water
on paper, somewhat soaked in.
Mount all electrical parts on the top side of the board provided. To install
parts, the component should be placed flat to the board, and the leads
should be bent on the backside of the board to prevent the part falling out
before soldering (1). The part is then soldered securely to the board (2-4),
and the remaining lead length is clipped off (5). Notice how the solder joint
looks close up, clean and smooth with no holes or sharp points (6).