Soldering
When you first walk up to the soldering iron….
When I first walk up to the soldering iron, I should first moisten the sponge used to clean the soldering iron, and make sure all of the equipment needed to solder (materials that are being soldered, and a device to hold up these materials if necessary) is present. Following this, I can open up a window. This will allow some of the harmful, unpleasant fumes from the melting solder to escape the room. Once the window is open and I have gathered all the materials I need, I can ensure that the soldering iron is plugged in and turned on, and set the temperature between around 4 and 5. After a few minutes, the soldering iron should heat up. Before I actually begin soldering, however, it is important to clean and prepare the soldering iron. To accomplish this, I should melt some of the solder on the tip of the iron to burn off some of the old solder residue, and then wipe off this residue on the sponge. I will know that the iron is prepared properly when the tip appears shiny and clean. Once all of this is prepared properly, I can begin soldering.
When you step away from the soldering iron…
Before stepping away from the soldering iron, I should first prepare the iron for the next person by melting solder on the tip of the iron to take off some of the residue, and then cleaning off this residue on the sponge. This makes the preparation process significantly easier for the next person. While they will likely have to clean it again before beginning to solder, it prevents any excessive residue buildup. As a critical safety precaution, it is extremely important to turn off the soldering iron. If you don’t, you could burn down NYU! (might be a little dramatic, but seriously, it’s dangerous)
Current and Power
Setting the Multimeter:
Before starting to use the multimeter, be sure to check that the red test lead is plugged into the red jack on the bottom of left of the multimeter that is labeled “A” for amps. Since current is measured in amps, it is easy to remember that in order to measure current, the red test lead must be plugged into the jack labeled “A.”
Power Through A Resistor:
Calculated:
P=VI
V=8.90V
P= 0.25W
I= ?
0.25W= 8.90V X I
0.25W/ 8.90V= I
0.02808988764 Amps = I
V= 8.90V
I= 0.02808988764 Amps
R= ?
V= IR
8.90V= 0.02808988764 Amps X R
8.90V / 0.02808988764 Amps = R
316.84 Ohms= R
Since the calculated resistance is 316.94 given this voltage and current, the smallest resistor I can use is 330 Ohms.
Measured:
To check my calculations, I set up the circuit with my 8.90V battery and a 330 Ohm resistor, and measured the current.
Measured Current= 0.027 Amps
Since 0.027 Amps is very close to 0.02808988764 Amps, I know that both my calculations and my math are correct.
Kirchoff’s Current Law:
Measured:
I1= 0.026
I2= 0.009
I3= 0.009
I4= 0.003
I5=0.005
I6= 0.024
Calculated:
I1= I2 + I3 + I4 + I5= I6
I1 and I6:
Voltage= 9.68 V
Resistance=
R= 1/ ((1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3)+ (1/R4)).
R= 1/ (1/1000) + (1/1000) + 1/(2200) + 1/(3300)
R= 1/ (0.001) + (0.001) + (0.00045454545) + (0.0003030303)
R= 1/ 0.0027575753
R= 362.637422811 Ohms
Current=
V= IR
9.68V= I X 362.637422811
0.02669 Amps = I1 and I6
I2 and I3:
R= 1000 Ohms
V= 9.68V
V=IR
9.68V= I X 1000 Ohms
9.68V/1000= I
0.00968 Amps= I
0.00968 Amps= I2 and I3
I4:
R= 2200 Ohms
V= 9.68V
V=IR
9.68V= I X 2200 Ohms
9.68V/2200 Ohms= I
0.0044 Amps= I
0.0044 Amps = I4
I5:
R= 3300 Ohms
V= 9.68V
9.68V= I X 3300 Ohms
9.68V/3300 Ohms= 0.002933 Amps
0.002933 Amps= I
0.002933 Amps= I5
Troubleshooting Notes:
You live and you learn. Check out my mistakes from this week here!
Sarah's Analog Electronics Lab Reports 