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(Topic ID: 233475)

Soldering diode to microswitch

By dr_nybble

5 years ago

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16 posts
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#1 5 years ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

Ottawa, ON

10y 114K 3,544 15

So I bought a bunch of DB3 microswitches and diodes. Can someone give me some tips on how to bend the leads to prep for soldering?

I believe I should be passing the leads through the holes on the terminals to help secure the diode. What is the best way to do it? Or is it actually helpful?

I tried a few times and the best I came up with was to create a sort of "omega" shape: Ω

I passed the ends of the leads from the inside of the terminals to the outside and then bent them up with needlenose pliers.

Want to find out the best way to do it without mangling the diode leads!

#2 5 years ago

JLB

buffaloatx

Pinside member

Austin, TX

11y 48,300 608 16

I stole this from High_End_Pins
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/hep-this-week-9-17-18/page/24#post-4689438 (Second picture in the post)

For me it is the easiest and fastest way to do this.

Post last edited 5 years ago: “More accurate link provided”

#3 5 years ago

MJS

I use needle-nose pliers. Bend the leads of the diode at 90 degree angles so the distance between leads is the distance of the outside switch legs. Then bend the leads 90 degrees out away from each other. I squeeze the leads to get them to go through the eyelets and bend back out. Then bend up to hook the eyelet and trim if necessary.

diode.pdf

#4 5 years ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

Ottawa, ON

10y 114K 3,544 15

Excellent illustration, thanks! Think I need to buy some finer needle-nose pliers.

I looked at some of the NASA guidelines, this seems like the right way although they are particular about the looped lead not extending beyond the terminal.

#5 5 years ago

AAA

pintechev

Inactive member

11y 91,300 4,437

My father always said that you start with a good mechanical connection and then you add solder.

#6 5 years ago

BSK

Bryan_Kelly

Pinside+ Frequent

Lakeville, MN

12y 135K 8,484 8 1

You can just buy them from me too.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/69100

#7 5 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,991 24 7

Quoted from schudel5:
I use needle-nose pliers. Bend the leads of the diode at 90 degree angles so the distance between leads is the distance of the outside switch legs. Then bend the leads 90 degrees out away from each other. I squeeze the leads to get them to go through the eyelets and bend back out. Then bend up to hook the eyelet and trim if necessary.

You have the silver band end of the diode on the wrong end of the switch in your drawing.

LTG : )

#8 5 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,398 27

Quoted from LTG:
You have the silver band end of the diode on the wrong end of the switch in your drawing.
LTG : )

Sorry. Those were the ones I bought from Bryan Kelly.

I updated the image. Thanks.

#9 5 years ago

SKN

Skins

Star Pinball Restoration

12y 101K 4,375 47

Laliva Plugs - 1pc 136mm Lead Benders Carbon Compos Resistor Diode Axial Capacitor Forming Tooling - (Standard: Bender, Color: Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L2XFJJD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_skLnCbVH6Q6GW

#10 5 years ago

BSK

Bryan_Kelly

Pinside+ Frequent

Lakeville, MN

12y 135K 8,484 8 1

Quoted from schudel5:
Sorry. Those were the ones I bought from Bryan Kelly.
I updated the image. Thanks.

I heard that, asshole!

#11 5 years ago

BSK

Bryan_Kelly

Pinside+ Frequent

Lakeville, MN

12y 135K 8,484 8 1

I had a friend 3D print me one of those and I didn't like using it. I can make those first bends quicker with a small needle nose. I also make a second bend with a different needle nose to shorten the leads because I don't like the diode sitting up that high.

#12 5 years ago

DAV

wayout440

Pinside member

Berea, OH

11y 113K 11,267 3 12

Quoted from pintechev:
My father always said that you start with a good mechanical connection and then you add solder.

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! You are a disciple of proper soderig techniques. Your father speaks the truth!

#13 5 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,398 27

Quoted from Bryan_Kelly:
I heard that, asshole!

Damn! Did I say that out loud!

#14 5 years ago

AAA

pintechev

Inactive member

11y 91,300 4,437

Quoted from wayout440:
Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! You are a disciple of proper soderig techniques. Your father speaks the truth!

He is Army trained and took this stuff very seriously...

#15 5 years ago

DAV

wayout440

Pinside member

Berea, OH

11y 113K 11,267 3 12

Quoted from pintechev:
He is Army trained and took this stuff very seriously...

Well, I did not, but every electronics course and soldering class taught me that. The reason behind it is electrical soldering, unlike silver soldering, or welding, has no mechanical strength. This becomes even more important if there are mechanical stresses such as vibtation present, and this is very true in pinball machines.

#16 5 years ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

Ottawa, ON

10y 114K 3,544 15

I have settled on this style of bending:

diode (resized).png

This allows me to easily slide the diode onto the contacts without deforming it. I then bend them up and snip the leads to the top of the terminal.

Got them from here: https://www.alliedelec.com/zf-electronics-db3c-b1aa/70207508/

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