How to solder battery leads without lifting the pads

Lifted battery pads are one of the most common build mistakes we see. The cause is almost always too little heat for too long, not too much.

What works

1. Use a large chisel tip. A fine conical tip cannot deliver heat fast enough for thick battery wire.
2. Set the iron hot enough for big joints and let it recover between them.
3. Add flux to the pad and the wire.
4. Tin the pad and tin the wire separately.
5. Bring them together and hold for two to three seconds, then let it cool without moving.

A good joint is shiny and smooth. If you have been holding the iron on a pad for ten seconds, stop and let it cool. Practice on a scrap board first. #soldering #build