carefully soldering diodes

[gutsofgold]

i'm testing diodes in the 808 clone i built and want to make sure i don't damage them. i've read that they can be very sensitive to heat. usually my iron is at 220 - 260*C this is the lowest temp that still keeps the solder flowing good. i use 63/37 by the way. i don't really have room to attach a clip to the lead before it hits the diode so no heatsink option really. would i be safe at these temps if i do it as quick as possible?

i may switch between two different LED colors (for a semi-asymmetrical clip) and two germanium diodes in symmetrical clip setup. sound like a good start?

[aron]

To tell you the truth, I've never really worried about diodes like the 1N914 and 1N4148 much. I use my iron on the normal setting and for all components, I apply the heat and solder as quickly as possible. I don't let the iron sit there on the component heating it up.

>may switch between two different LED colors (for a semi-asymmetrical clip) and two germanium diodes in symmetrical clip setup. sound like a good start?

Measure the diodes to know what you are getting. You might not like too much mismatch.

On GEO:

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/how_to_solder.htm

[MikeH]

To tell you the truth, I've never really worried about diodes like the 1N914 and 1N4148 much. I use my iron on the normal setting and for all components, I apply the heat and solder as quickly as possible. I don't let the iron sit there on the component heating it up.

Ditto on this.  I've tried Ge diode in a TS before, but the output is always really low.  Like, you have to turn the Vol to max just to get it at unity gain with you clean signal.  So you have to modify the circuit or add a boost stage after to get it to work right.

[ambulancevoice]

ive never had any problem with overheating diodes
even germs, althought i bet germs are more sensitive than sili diodes

[Shepherd]

I've managed to break germanium diodes putting them in a pcb.  Before that I wondered why their leads were coiled on some factory boards I looked at.  Now I know better.

[petemoore]

  high heat iron creates greater temperature differential between the component lead and it's body, and makes it possible to solder the lead with the body at a lower temperature [solder quick and heat doesn't have time to conduct into the diode].
  Put a 1/4'' of lead length on them, use testclips as heatsinks, or just solder them in and measure them to be sure they're working.

[gutsofgold]

the job has been done! i have my mult set to the diode test and i get about .5V through all of them and thats what i was getting on an unused one too. should be still good i would assume.