soldering WS2812 Assistance or suggestions needed

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

I am attempting to solder together WS2812 strips in a configuration for an audio spectrum visualizer. I am really struggling with the soldering. Soldering wires on those tiny copper spots and keeping the three spots not touching or getting too much heat and ruining the strip is tough. Any suggestions for soldering technique or temperature or type or anything? I Was made aware that they do make connectors for this operation, but I want to do this before those would arrive and its quite expensive for a large pack of connectors when I only need a couple for this project. That is why I am attempting to use soldering to connect them. Other connection suggestions are welcome.

2

Soldering is easier when you have the right equipment and experience, of course. Believe it or not, those pads are not actually very small

What type of soldering iron, bit and solder are you using and if it is a temperature controlled iron what temperature do you have it set to ?

In general I would use a cleaned chisel shaped bit, a temperature setting of 350 degrees, lead base 60/40 solder and maybe a dab of flux from a flux pen on the pad. Tin the wires and pads first, of course, then hold the tinned wire on the tinned pad and apply the iron. Almost as soon as the solder begins to flow remove the iron and hold the wire and LED strip still whilst the solder hardens.

3

See post #463, 464, 475 and 476

https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=445951.msg3642294#msg3642294

This image shows a soldering iron tip that works, use 350°C.

Use liquid flux.

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Using magnification makes a big difference.

4

Hi,
Can you post a picture of your soldering iron and the tip you are using please?
What sort and diameter solder are you using?

Thanks.. Tom... :slight_smile:

5

I suppose you're talking about the three large pads you can find on the strip between each LED, not the smallish ones on the LED themselves?

Those pads I indeed consider quite large and very easy to solder, with their 2.5mm spacing. The LEDs themselves become a little harder, but not too seriously so.

If you see solder connecting two pads, you almost certainly use WAY too much solder. When molten it will by itself form a nice blob on top of the pads, without extending to the sides.