Conductive epoxy

john dozier · 16th December 2010, 01:55 PM

I plan to use some polystyrene capacitors in an upgrade. Understanding the difficulty of soldering these, would a silver bearing conductive epoxy be a reasonable alternative. I have some of the Chemtronics TW2400. Thanks for your input. I am concerned that the epoxy might add to the the caps ESR, thus negating use of the low ESR in the first place.

jackinnj · 16th December 2010, 02:13 PM

Polystyrene caps can be soldered -- they just can't go in a soldering oven. If you're worried about the heat one trick from the bygone era of germanium transistors was to use an alligator clip as a heat sink on the lead to be soldered. Another was to use a high temperature with a low temp solder and quick and deft handwork.

eyoung · 16th December 2010, 02:22 PM

I use the alligator clip trick all the time just paranoid like that especially on small transistors , go to the shack and buy a small bag . Cheap and simple.

El

john dozier · 16th December 2010, 06:34 PM

These are box type and mount thru the hole and flush to the pcb. Thus no room for a heat sink while soldering. I was just wondering if anyone had used conductive epoxy and if so how were the results? Thanks again for the input. I may to rethink mounting rather than using an untested method.

Enzo · 17th December 2010, 12:40 AM

Learn how to solder with confidence, and you will have no problem. Unsure soldering - heating and reheating the joint, adding "just a dab more" solder, using too cool an iron, etc - is a good way to heat stress parts.

eyoung · 17th December 2010, 12:50 AM

ditto... solder with confidence don't be afraid and use a good soldering iron and good solder(don't use silver has to high a melting point).I use .050" dia 63/37 rosin core for most stuff. I'm sure this will elicit a flood of opinions.

El

davidsrsb · 17th December 2010, 10:23 AM

If the leads are tarnished, polish them up first. Cooking dirty leads in flux to get the solder to wet them is sure to melt the polystyrene.
And don't use lead free solder!

Magura · 17th December 2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyoung

ditto... solder with confidence don't be afraid and use a good soldering iron and good solder(don't use silver has to high a melting point).I use .050" dia 63/37 rosin core for most stuff. I'm sure this will elicit a flood of opinions.

El

Exactly!

If soldered just reasonably right, only once, with 63/37 rosin core solder, and reasonably fast, you have no problem.

So instead of trying to get around to learn how to solder, just like others above I would suggest you learn to solder with confidence.
Learning to solder just reasonably well, will pay back soooo many times in the future.

Magura

john dozier · 18th December 2010, 10:24 AM

I have reasonble soldering skills, so I take all of the above advice. Polish leads, use flux and do it quickly. Hope this works. Thanks for the good suggestions.

davidsrsb · 18th December 2010, 10:36 AM

Cropping the leads before soldering also helps

16th December 2010, 01:55 PM	#1
john dozier diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: columbia sc	Conductive epoxy I plan to use some polystyrene capacitors in an upgrade. Understanding the difficulty of soldering these, would a silver bearing conductive epoxy be a reasonable alternative. I have some of the Chemtronics TW2400. Thanks for your input. I am concerned that the epoxy might add to the the caps ESR, thus negating use of the low ESR in the first place.

16th December 2010, 02:22 PM	#3
eyoung diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sunny SC,USA 15 min south of Charlotte NC	I use the alligator clip trick all the time just paranoid like that especially on small transistors , go to the shack and buy a small bag . Cheap and simple. El __________________ "Sometimes obstacles are put in our way to make us slow down so that we can enjoy the journey and appreciate the destination when we eventually get there"

16th December 2010, 06:34 PM	#4
john dozier diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: columbia sc	Box type These are box type and mount thru the hole and flush to the pcb. Thus no room for a heat sink while soldering. I was just wondering if anyone had used conductive epoxy and if so how were the results? Thanks again for the input. I may to rethink mounting rather than using an untested method.

17th December 2010, 12:50 AM	#6
eyoung diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sunny SC,USA 15 min south of Charlotte NC	ditto... solder with confidence don't be afraid and use a good soldering iron and good solder(don't use silver has to high a melting point).I use .050" dia 63/37 rosin core for most stuff. I'm sure this will elicit a flood of opinions. El __________________ "Sometimes obstacles are put in our way to make us slow down so that we can enjoy the journey and appreciate the destination when we eventually get there"

18th December 2010, 10:24 AM	#9
john dozier diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: columbia sc	Thanks I have reasonble soldering skills, so I take all of the above advice. Polish leads, use flux and do it quickly. Hope this works. Thanks for the good suggestions.


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16th December 2010, 02:13 PM	#2
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	Polystyrene caps can be soldered -- they just can't go in a soldering oven. If you're worried about the heat one trick from the bygone era of germanium transistors was to use an alligator clip as a heat sink on the lead to be soldered. Another was to use a high temperature with a low temp solder and quick and deft handwork.

17th December 2010, 12:40 AM	#5
Enzo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lansing, Michigan	Learn how to solder with confidence, and you will have no problem. Unsure soldering - heating and reheating the joint, adding "just a dab more" solder, using too cool an iron, etc - is a good way to heat stress parts.

17th December 2010, 10:23 AM	#7
davidsrsb diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kuala Lumpur	If the leads are tarnished, polish them up first. Cooking dirty leads in flux to get the solder to wet them is sure to melt the polystyrene. And don't use lead free solder!

18th December 2010, 10:36 AM	#10
davidsrsb diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kuala Lumpur	Cropping the leads before soldering also helps

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