Articles

PCB Preheater-How To Do And Is It Necessary?

by Howie Liu Electronics Engineer

Abstract

Purchasing a PCB preheater workstation is exceptionally costly. The objective of this article is to show how a circuit to PCB workstation for preheating operates with no extraordinary materials and apparatus acquired from different outlets. It includes operations that involve the use of high current and AC line voltage.

 

But a statutory warning! Take caution when working with AC current. It is risky and can endanger one's life.

 

PCB Preheater1.png

 

Content

1.Your Shopping List

2.Setup Heat Gun

3.PCB Preheater Gun (Naked)

4.Mounting of Heat Blower

5.Mounting the Blower

6.The first part of Heat Controller Circuit

 

1.Your Shopping List

The things you would need are Plywood, Heat Gun, Three Pong, Pipefitting with a Copper Elbow, a Square Tubing, Machine Screw, Washers and Nuts. You also need an equipment to hold down the Clamp. For this, you can use Cord Wire. Then you need a Wire Terminal and a Wire Nut.

 

The circuit has a low current side that requires a wire with a lower gauge to be used by the fan. You also need a Steel Strap roll, Hole Saw, Q4015LT Triac or Diac.The Heat Sink requires a bolt and Nut, for fastening the heat sink. one uF Capacitor, a Resistor of half watt variable resistor for Potentiometer, a Variable Resistor of 1/2 watt. Finally, a strip of Terminal connector composed of four wires, a Terminal strip composed of five wires, 12 Volts Direct Current Fan of dimensions 60 centimetres by 60 centimetres by 25 centimetres, and a Knob to fit potentiometer shaft.

 

PCB Preheater2.png

 

 

2.Setup Heat Gun

Keep a note when you distribute things, to make it easy for you when reassembling them. For this situation, you are to understand how the switch and blower need to be wired. The blower should be dismantled, then identify the switch and wire connections. This will help in the wiring of heat controller and in replacing a power cord of two wires with that of three wires.

 

3.PCB Preheater Gun (Naked)

You must be keen on this item. The plastic sections can be reused in welding ventures you might need to do later on. Utilize the heat gun’s lower side. A red wire should be linked to switch through the terminal on the lower side. You can expel the dark wire from the high terminal side of the switch.

A ground wire is not brought together with a Heat gun. As a safety measure, the blower should be grounded.

 

4.Mounting of Heat Blower

Utilize plywood of dimensions 6 inches by 12 inches by ½ inch bit of to develop the pre-heaters base. We require space for the fan and heat controller as well. The strap should be bent to surround the heat blower to test the correct length that fits. The quarter inch square tubing should be cut to enable the placement of the blower on the tubing. Amass the fan to the board’s base.

 

PCB Preheater3.png

 

 

5.Mounting the Blower

Make sure that the elbow of the copper pipe is placed on the heat gun from the end. Press the elbow to make it fit. Ensure that strapping nuts are not over tightened.

 

6.The first part of Heat Controller Circuit

You can look up on the internet to know about the circuit of heat controller or even refer to Rob Paisley’s simple circuit structure. You must keep in mind that 1200 watts are the maximum Watt for this gadget. In situations where you exceed that, the PCB gets heated under a lot of heat. Although this circuit board is simple and can easily handle eight amps of the current which your blower needs.

 

Conclusion

The other steps include heat controller circuit part 2, fan circuit part 1 and 2, build box cover, testing and clean up, using the preheat workstation. These are explained on the web in a defined way. The steps mentioned above are the ones that need your core attention.


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About Howie Liu Innovator   Electronics Engineer

17 connections, 0 recommendations, 72 honor points.
Joined APSense since, August 23rd, 2017, From hebei, China.

Created on May 3rd 2018 05:10. Viewed 192 times.

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