RRW1B • 7
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 m ay be in a hurry to see
results, before you switch on the power check all wirin g and capacitors for
proper orientation. Also check the board for any possible s older shorts, and/or
cold solder joints. All of these mistakes could have detrimental effects on your
kit - not to mention your ego!
Kit building tips:
Use a good soldering technique - let your soldering ir on tip gently heat the
traces to which you are soldering, heating both wires and pads simultaneously.
Apply the solder on 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 p rovided. The top side
is clearly marked with the word “TOP”, you can’t miss it. This is the side that
has little or no traces on it, but is covered with mostly copper. W hen parts are
installed, the part is placed flat to the board, and the l eads are bent on the
backside of the board to prevent the part from falling out before soldering (1).
The part is then soldered securely to the board (2-4), and t he remaining lead
length is then clipped off (5). Notice how the solder joi nt looks on close up,
clean and smooth with no holes or sharp points (6).