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Cold PCB
Not enough solder
Solder is attached to the
component wire but not to
the PCB copper.
Solder did not flow
Solder is attached to the
PCB Copper but not to the
component wire.
Cold component
Bridge of solder
Wire bridge
Perfect solder connection
Two separate components are
connected with a wire to each
other making a short cut
Two separate solder spots
are connected to each other
making a short circuit
The soldering surface looks
nice and shiny!
When the trace is broken or the path is damaged,
When the trace is broken or the path is damaged,
remove the mask on the copper trace with a screwdriver
remove the mask on the copper trace with a screwdriver
or a knife and bend the component wire to the trace.
or a knife and bend the component wire to the trace.
Solder a piece of wire from trace to trace or from
Solder a piece of wire from trace to trace or from
component to trace.
component to trace.
The PCB is made of a copper trace on a non-conductive substrate which connects
the components, who are soldered to solder paths, electrically with eachother. Copper
surfaces which will not be soldered are often coated with a mask to make it solder
resistant. This mask also protects the copper against oxidating. When we overheat the
copper traces or solder paths, the copper may vaporate or loosen from the substrate.
To repair this we must remove the protective mask carefully with a screwdriver or
small knife. See below how you can repair a damaged PCB.
2.3 Troubleshoot soldering mistakes:
