How do you solder bypass caps under a PCB?

[1UP]

When bypassing electrolytics, I'm confused how people solder polyester/polypropylene caps on the under-side of the PCB...

What exactly are the steps in which you solder these?

Do you first solder the electrolytic in place, then flip the board, melt the solder, then add more solder when adding the bypass cap?

Or do you somehow solder them all together at the same time, i.e. just one application of solder for both caps?

Or some other way? Any tips/tricks for neat joints?

 

[Nisbeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1UP Do you first solder the electrolytic in place, then flip the board, melt the solder, then add more solder when adding the bypass cap?

Basically yes, although I usually tin the leads of the bypass caps first. that way it is usually possible to solder the bypass cap in place without having to add any more solder

/U.

 

[Edwood]

If there is enough room inside the through hole in the PCB, (like with snap in electrolytics, for example), you can push the leads of the bypass/snubber caps into the same holes from the bottom of the pcb, before soldering.

Use pliers if you have to really cram it in there, but you will get a nice physical connection along with the solder.

This method will make it an abolute b*tch to remove the electrolytic cap later if you need to, but this is the most solid way of soldering baypass/snubber caps from the underside I can think of.

-Ed