Elenco Electronics SL-5, SL-5-40, SL-5-SPL Instruction Manual

99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176

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Toll Free 1-800-517-8431

Deluxe Electronic

Soldering Station

MODEL SL-5
MODEL SL-5-40
MODEL SL-5-SPL

Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com

Instruction Manual

Elenco Electronics,Inc.

Copyri gh t © 20 02 Elenco Elec tron i cs, Inc.

SOLDER STATION MODELS

The following instructions are for the following electronic soldering
stations. Th e model number of the electronic soldering station that you
have received, is marked on the end of the carton.

Model SL-5 is supplied without an iron.
Model SL-5-40

Model SL-5-SPL

is supplied with a 40 watt soldering iron,
grounded plug, Model SR-6.

is custom packaged with an iron of your choice
and other soldering aids.

INTRODUCTION

The SL-5 series of soldering stations are quality products designed to
give the professional, student and hobbyist greater control in quality
soldering a broad range of soldering situations. The stations are
available with 40 watt soldering irons. The AC receptacle on the back
of the station allows soldering irons of up to 300 watts. The AC
receptacle also allows irons to be easily changed or replaced.

FEATURES

Tip Sizes

The tip sizes and shapes greatly effects the heating and heat­recovery.Today, tips are manufactured in a variety of different shapes.
Having a choice of tip styles al lo ws you to choose the one best suited
for your soldering needs.

Shown below is a soldering iron tip package of 5 tip sizes (Model
TIPK-1) that can be used with Elenco’s soldering irons SR-2B and
SR-6. Due to high heat, removable tips can bond themselves to the
heating elem ent if left in place for ext e nded periods . Periodic removal
of the tip is therefore advisable.

1/32” 1/64” 1/16” 1/8” 3/64”

Tip Package Model TIPK-1

• Heavy Steel, Non-Slip Base

• Iron Holder Funnel - Reversible, left or right side

• Stainless Steel Tray for Spo nge Pad

• Sponge Pad

• Power On/Off with Indicator Light

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Replacements and Optional Solder Aids for SL-5
Series Solder Station

40W Soldering Iron SR-6
Conical Tip SR-2T2
Wedge Tip SR-2T
Tip Kit used with SR-6 Soldering Iron TIPK-1
Tip Tinner/ Cleaner TTC-1
Desoldering Wick SW-3
Solder 63/37 Rosin Core .032 dia.10ft. ST-4A
Solder Ease Kit SE-1
Desoldering Pump

SP-2

OPERATION

• Carefully remove the SL-5 parts from the box.

• Insert the iron holder on either the right or the left side.

• Wet the sponge with preferably distilled or tap water, and then place
it into the tray.

• Set the On/Off switch to the Off position and the control knob at
minimum.

• Plug the soldering iron line cord into the AC receptacle on the back
of the station and place the soldering iron into the iron holder
funnel.

• Plug the line cord of the solder station into a 120-volt, 60Hz AC
receptacle.

• Turn the power switch On and set the temperature control to
maximum.

• We will now tin the tip by applying solder to the tip as

before the tip becomes too hot.

DO IT

• Set the temperature setting to the temperature desired for
soldering. If you are not going to use the iron immediately, set the
temperature in the

park position

.

it heats up.

4.

Solder Bridges

- A solder
bridge occurs when solder
runs between circuit paths and
creates a short circuit. This is
usually cau sed by using too
much solder. To correct this,
simply drag your soldering iron
across the solder bridge as
shown.

General Areas of Temperature Settings for 40W Iron

Use these settings for
soldering te mperature
sensitive components.

Use these settings for
general soldering and
connections that
require more heat.

Park Position

In these settings,
temperat ur es ar e to o
low for soldering. Set
the station in these
positions when not
using it to reduce
oxidation of the
soldering iro n ti p .

300

550

670

750

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Like all electrical devices, the solder st ation must be handled with
care. The soldering iron and tip can reach high temperatures and
these simple safety rules should be followed.

1. Keep children out of reach of the soldering station.

2. To protect your eyes, use safety goggles.

3. Keep flammable material away from the soldering iron.

4.

DO NOT cool iron by dipping it into any liquid or water.

5. Always assume that the tip is hot to avoid burns.

6. Work in an area that is well ventilated.

7. Be careful that the hot soldering iron tip or the barrel of the iron
does not come in contact with any electrical cord.

8. Do not hold solder in your mouth. Solder contains lead and is
a toxic substance. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling
solder.

9. Locate solder station in an area where you do not have to go
around it or reach over it.

Soldering Surface Mount Components

Using tweezers or small long nose pliers , place the iron in contact
with the PC board foil. Apply a small amount of solder simultaneously
to the foil and components, allowin g them to melt the solder.

Remove the iron and allow the solder to cool. The solder should have
flowed freely and not lumped around the component.

Apply the lowest heat possible while still having solder flow freely
(suggested temperature setting: 625

O

F).

-3-

Heat Sinking

Electronic components such as transistors, IC’s, and diodes can be
damaged by the heat during soldering. Heat sinking is a way of
reducing the heat on the components while soldering. Dissipating the
heat can be achieved by using long nose pliers, an alligator clip, or a
special heat dissipating clip. The heat sink should be held on the
component lead between the part and the solder joint.

2. Apply a small amount of solder to the
iron tip.This allows the heat to leave the
iron and onto the foil. Immediately apply
solder to the opposite side of the
connection, away from the iron. Allow
the heated component and the circuit foil
to melt the solder.

3. Allow the solder to flow around the
connection. Then, remove the solder
and the iron and let the connection cool.
The solder should have flowed smoothly
and not lump around the wire lead.

SOLDERING IRONS

Iron wattage varies from 15 to over 100 watts. For working on PC
boards, irons ranging from 15 to 40 watts is suitable. If a heavy-duty
soldering iron is required, a 60 watt iron should be considered. If you
use an iron with a higher wattage rating than 40 watts, you may
damage the copper tracks on the PC board.The higher wattage irons
are best suited for heavy-duty electrical connections.

Soldering Iron Tip

The tip is the very important part of the iron. The material that the tip
is made f rom is an important factor. The solde ring iron tip contains
four different metals see figure below. The core consists of copper.
Since the copper is a soft material, it is plated with iron. Then the tip
is plated with tin, because it can be easily cleaned. Chrome plating
is used on the area where no soldering takes place to prevent
oxidation.

CopperIron Plating Chrome PlatingTin Plating

Tip Cleaning

A good clean solder tip makes soldering much easier. The tip should
be tinned by lightly coating it with solder to prevent it from oxidizing.
The tip can become pitted (black spots) from normal use. It is
important to clean the tip by wiping it with a wet sponge or rag. For
tips that need a good cleaning, the tip tinnier and cleaner (#TTC1)
should be used.
tip. Using such methods will damage the plating and ruin the tip. Do
not remove the excess solder from the tip before storing. The excess
solder will prevent oxidation.

Never use a file or abrasive material to clean the

4. Here is what a good solder connection
looks like.

-4--7-

INTRODUCTION TO SOLDERING

Almost every ele ctron i c device today ha s a pri n te d ci rcu it (PC) bo ard.
Whether you are assembling a PC boar d or repairing it, you must
understand the basics of working with these boards.

A poorly soldered joint can greatly effect small current flow in circuits
and can cause equipment failure. You can damage a PC board or a
component with too much heat or cause a cold solder joint with
insufficient heat. Sloppy soldering can cause bridges between two
adjacent foils preventing the circuit from functioning.

Good soldering requires practice and an understanding of soldering
principles. Sol d er (a tin-lead fu sible alloy) is use to for m a metallic
union or joint between two metals.

Solder

Solder is a fusible alloy composed of tin and lead. Some solder may
contain small amounts of other material for use in special purposes
to enhance its characteristics. Solder has a melting temperature
around 361
between two metals.

Solder is identified by the ratio of tin-to-lead. The most common
ratios are 63/37 and 60/40. Solder with a greater tin content melts at
a lower temperature, takes less time to harden, and generally makes
it easier to do a good soldering job. The ratio of tin is a main factor in
the strength of the solder joint. Solder with a greater tin content has
a greater holding ability under stress. Rosin core solders (.031”
diameter) are ideal for use in soldering elect ronic circuits.

O

to 370O, making it ideal for forming a metallic joint

For best results, the soldering iron should be at least 100
melting point of solder (361

O

650

F is desirable for printed circuit boards, while higher

O

F). Generally, a minimum temperature of

O

F above the

temperatures are needed for proper soldering to heavier terminals.
Listed below are some basic steps that should be followed to make

good solder joints.

1. Make sure that the part that is to be soldered is clean.

2. Where possible, make good mechanical connections.

3. Use quality 63/37 or 60/40 rosin core solder. NEVER USE ACID
CORE SOLDER OR FLUX.

4. Apply heat to the base material or wires so that they become hot
enough to melt th e s o ld er.

5. Slide the soldering iron away from the joint to leave a neat join t.

6. After removing iron, do not move joint.

7. On temperature sensitive components such as transistors,
diodes, and IC’s, avoid too much heat. Use a heat sink to
dissipate heat away from the component.

Surface Preparation

In order for the solder to adhere to the connection, the metals must
be clean and free of non-metallic materials.Flux in the solder can
remove oxides from metal but not other materials like dirt or grease.
To remove these, use a small steel brush or fine emery cloth.

Mechanical Connection

When all the surfaces are clean, the metals should have a solid
mechanical connection. Wires should be tightly wrapped around
each other or to the terminal.This will eliminate large gaps that create
weak solder joints. Solder should not be used as a mechanical
connection.

SolderWire Terminal

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