Acorn Computers Limited BBC A, Hardware Manual, Page: 16 / 47

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2.3 Tools and Equipment Required.
In order to carry out many of the modifications described in subsequent chapters, certain basic tools are
required. If possible, obtain good quality tools, as these should last a lifetime if treated with care.
The following list of tools will allow the reader to carry out all of the hardware upgrades and modifications
that are described in this book:
No.2 cross-point screwdriver.
No.3 cross-point screwdriver.
Flat bladed terminal screwdriver.
Pair of thin nosed pliers.
Pair of oblique cutters.
Soldering iron, preferably temperature controlled (see section 2.4).
Desolder pump (see section 2.5).
Solder-22 S.W.G. rosin cored, 60/40 tin/lead alloy.
Bench lamp (e.g. "Anglepoise" lamp).
2.4 Soldering.
Many newcomers to electronics and computing are under the misconception that the soldering of
components to delicate printed circuit boards is a very difficult technique to master. Although good quality
soldering does require practice and patience, it is a task that should be mastered fairly easily by the
majority of readers. This is especially the case if the general guidelines that follow are carefully observed.
A good quality soldering iron is, of course, a necessary requirement. Poor quality soldering irons can
easily cause damage to the main PCB of the BBC Microcomputer, since the board has fine copper tracks
on both sides as well as through-hole plating. Ideally, a temperature controlled iron which is fitted with a
fine pencil" tip, should be chosen. This type of iron may have a heating element power of up to 50 watts,
the higher wattage types having a much faster temperature recovery than the lower wattage types.
Temperature controlled soldering irons are, however, relatively expensive and if the price is considered to
be excessive, then a good quality "thermally balanced" type is an inexpensive be alternative. This type of
iron is designed such that the heating element and tip assembly combination is only capable of attaining
a certain maximum tip temperature, in the steady be state condition. For work on the BBC
Microcomputer, a thermally balanced soldering iron of power between 15 and 25 watts should be chosen.