Thanks for sharing your work. You did hide the most interesting and in maybe the most important Thing: Soldering the thermal vias. Normally this is done by the reflow Process. But how to handle using manual soldering? I soldered several EPS32 WROOM modules and td to solder the theraml vias from the back side after pretinning and fluxing the thermal via area. Unfortunately I do not know if it works. For temporarily fixing parts during soldering I often use a wooden made peg. They are cheap very versatile and Show a sufficient heat resistance. You can use such a peg to fix the module on the pcb. Then you can adjust it and set the first solder joints. Then I add a 10µF 0804 cerco between 3.3V pad and the metal can of the ESP32. Looks a Little botchy but works. You create your own pcbs so you can add the capacitor beween 3.3V pin and GND pin on your PCB. I just buy the most common part in volume. Fo the rest I am using the Chinese SMD sample books from eBay or ali. Unfortunately I do not have a microscope. Do you use one?
Good point with the thermal pad, but I don't hide it ... I don't solder it with this manual technique. Would do this only if I use a reflow process (oven or pan) and solder paste. But I don't have a reflow oven and no pan to mess up. For the next revision I will add a footprint for a capacitor and maybe also a 3.3V regulator. And yes, I use a microscope (see description) and my eyes are unfortunately not good enough to do this without any magnification.
Ausgezeichnet! I was worried about that ground pad in the middle, because in another video, the dude overheated the chip trying to solder it. Maybe I'll put a little bit of solder on it and let it seep through the holes down onto the Ground pad. Then again, maybe not.
Amazing ! If I have to do a tutorial on soldering, I would use exactly the same words as you did. Even, fluxing the copper braid… ;-) I still use leaded solder and my station is set to 370C, bc I remember the euthetic melting point thing from my apprenticeship 35 years ago. I'm not up-to-date on the new lead-less solders and there optimal melting temps, perhaps you could dig in it, in another video?
Better way to soldering this module and whole smt IC is mini-wave. Using more solder to cover a few of connetor and slow move of iron, its possible to make clean connections. If You have shorts, its can remove by clean iron or solder wick.
Thanks, last time i try this unfortunately a bridge have formed under the module I could not get rid of (and that was when ESP32 modules have cost a fortune). But will try this again after changing from my Weller solder station to my FX-951 with maybe a K or J shape tip.
Kamil Bystryk Thanks, got new PCBs today with also QFN package so definitely have to use other techniques including my heatgun. Louis Rossmann is always an inspiring source for ways of soldering.
Two question: 1) What is the box op contacts under the module? I thought they might be BGA pins; but, I did not see you solder them. 2) Have you tried using solder paste? You can squirt is on the PCB pads then use a heat gun or soldering iron to flow it to the module pins.
Ad 1) These holes are thermal vias en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics) to help transferring the heat from the chip to the pcb where it spreads out. A Kind of heat sink. And yes in my opinion they should be soldered too. ESP32 runs hotter than ESP8266.
If you want your pcbs manufactured search for "$2 pcb" or "$5 pcb" to find cheap ways but your have to add shipping costs. And that's cheaper than sending one of the boards from my location.
For my purpose to test the prototypes it's OK without and the module don't heat over 47°C (without any cover). But you are right, if you need it you can solder the module down to the heat pad (see other the comments) or apply at least a little thermal past to the pad.
From the ESP-WROOM-32 datasheet: Note: Soldering Pad 39 to the Ground of the base board is not necessary for a satisfactory thermal performance. If users do want to solder it, they need to ensure that the correct quantity of soldering paste is applied. Might still be better though.
Thanks for your interesting video. Since I am worried about the soldering of the whole module, I'd prefer a presoldered module - do you know of any? Of course I could use development boards but I would prefer a ESP32 already soldered on a breakout-board. That would facilitate a lot for me, I could concentrate on my own pcb and just would solder headers on my pcb to put it the ESP32 module.
An additional question - would be be willing to sell your adapter modules in small quantities? I just lookedat your video where you designed the pcb. I am not able to design such a board myself so it would be really helpful if I could buy some of your modules.
Maybe there are some bare presoldered Modules with the ESP32 WROOM or WROVER module on a PCB with 2.54 mm pin headers but not seen one beside the Dev., Wemos or Lolin and other board with additional circuitry. If you prefer through-hole soldering eventually try a 1.27mm pitch header-pin for the ESP32 WROOM or WROVER module (but never tried myself)?
No, not selling the boards. Just the shipping for me is more then for you to order 60 boards from a board house. You can upload the published gerberfiles (see github.com/pcbreflux/espressif/tree/master/esp32/kicad/ESP32-wroover-adapter/gerber download an add them into one ZIP file) to website of the boardhouse of your choice. Search for "$2 PCB" or "$5 PCB" and you can order the prototype service offering. But you have include shipping to your total bill. One example howto see my "$2 PCB ?" video.
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Just what I needed - thanks!
Your video is well detailed. I appreciate it as I feel more confident in soldering the pads on this device now. Thank you.
Pleased if this was helpful. Thank you very much.
Vielen Dank für die Tipps! :-) Seltsam dass du nur so wenige Abos hast - dachte der Kanal hätte schon 6 stellige Zahl. Hättest es verdient!
Awesome video! Thanks. Great explanation of each step
Thanks for sharing your work.
You did hide the most interesting and in maybe the most important Thing: Soldering the thermal vias. Normally this is done by the reflow Process. But how to handle using manual soldering?
I soldered several EPS32 WROOM modules and td to solder the theraml vias from the back side after pretinning and fluxing the thermal via area. Unfortunately I do not know if it works.
For temporarily fixing parts during soldering I often use a wooden made peg. They are cheap very versatile and Show a sufficient heat resistance. You can use such a peg to fix the module on the pcb. Then you can adjust it and set the first solder joints.
Then I add a 10µF 0804 cerco between 3.3V pad and the metal can of the ESP32. Looks a Little botchy but works. You create your own pcbs so you can add the capacitor beween 3.3V pin and GND pin on your PCB.
I just buy the most common part in volume. Fo the rest I am using the Chinese SMD sample books from eBay or ali.
Unfortunately I do not have a microscope. Do you use one?
Good point with the thermal pad, but I don't hide it ... I don't solder it with this manual technique. Would do this only if I use a reflow process (oven or pan) and solder paste. But I don't have a reflow oven and no pan to mess up.
For the next revision I will add a footprint for a capacitor and maybe also a 3.3V regulator.
And yes, I use a microscope (see description) and my eyes are unfortunately not good enough to do this without any magnification.
Ausgezeichnet! I was worried about that ground pad in the middle, because in another video, the dude overheated the chip trying to solder it. Maybe I'll put a little bit of solder on it and let it seep through the holes down onto the Ground pad. Then again, maybe not.
For these esp32 dev boards should be solder the pins face up or face down is better? Or what kind of situation should we have it face up and down?
Cool ~
And the center ground pads don't need to be soldered? Thanks
I was wondering the same. He IS connecting multiple grounds from the pins, but I would have thought the pad is there for a reason.
Amazing !
If I have to do a tutorial on soldering, I would use exactly the same words as you did. Even, fluxing the copper braid… ;-)
I still use leaded solder and my station is set to 370C, bc I remember the euthetic melting point thing from my apprenticeship 35 years ago.
I'm not up-to-date on the new lead-less solders and there optimal melting temps, perhaps you could dig in it, in another video?
Thanks for your faith, but all my attempts with lead-free soldering have failed so far.
Better way to soldering this module and whole smt IC is mini-wave. Using more solder to cover a few of connetor and slow move of iron, its possible to make clean connections. If You have shorts, its can remove by clean iron or solder wick.
Thanks, last time i try this unfortunately a bridge have formed under the module I could not get rid of (and that was when ESP32 modules have cost a fortune). But will try this again after changing from my Weller solder station to my FX-951 with maybe a K or J shape tip.
Tip is big drop of tin, which follow behind solder. Its method to lead any IC, inculed 0.5mm tsop or QFN. Good luck!
Kamil Bystryk Thanks, got new PCBs today with also QFN package so definitely have to use other techniques including my heatgun. Louis Rossmann is always an inspiring source for ways of soldering.
Two question:
1) What is the box op contacts under the module? I thought they might be BGA pins; but, I did not see you solder them.
2) Have you tried using solder paste? You can squirt is on the PCB pads then use a heat gun or soldering iron to flow it to the module pins.
Ad 1) These holes are thermal vias en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_(electronics) to help transferring the heat from the chip to the pcb where it spreads out. A Kind of heat sink. And yes in my opinion they should be soldered too. ESP32 runs hotter than ESP8266.
Excellent, now I just need to know where to find that ESP32-WROVER breakout board, please ?
If you want your pcbs manufactured search for "$2 pcb" or "$5 pcb" to find cheap ways but your have to add shipping costs. And that's cheaper than sending one of the boards from my location.
Is there no need of thermal paste under the esp32 to distribute the heat better to the pcb?
For my purpose to test the prototypes it's OK without and the module don't heat over 47°C (without any cover). But you are right, if you need it you can solder the module down to the heat pad (see other the comments) or apply at least a little thermal past to the pad.
From the ESP-WROOM-32 datasheet:
Note:
Soldering Pad 39 to the Ground of the base board is not necessary for a satisfactory thermal performance. If users do
want to solder it, they need to ensure that the correct quantity of soldering paste is applied.
Might still be better though.
Thanks for your interesting video. Since I am worried about the soldering of the whole module, I'd prefer a presoldered module - do you know of any? Of course I could use development boards but I would prefer a ESP32 already soldered on a breakout-board. That would facilitate a lot for me, I could concentrate on my own pcb and just would solder headers on my pcb to put it the ESP32 module.
An additional question - would be be willing to sell your adapter modules in small quantities? I just lookedat your video where you designed the pcb. I am not able to design such a board myself so it would be really helpful if I could buy some of your modules.
Maybe there are some bare presoldered Modules with the ESP32 WROOM or WROVER module on a PCB with 2.54 mm pin headers but not seen one beside the Dev., Wemos or Lolin and other board with additional circuitry. If you prefer through-hole soldering eventually try a 1.27mm pitch header-pin for the ESP32 WROOM or WROVER module (but never tried myself)?
No, not selling the boards. Just the shipping for me is more then for you to order 60 boards from a board house. You can upload the published gerberfiles (see github.com/pcbreflux/espressif/tree/master/esp32/kicad/ESP32-wroover-adapter/gerber download an add them into one ZIP file) to website of the boardhouse of your choice. Search for "$2 PCB" or "$5 PCB" and you can order the prototype service offering. But you have include shipping to your total bill. One example howto see my "$2 PCB ?" video.
Its faster to drag solder the esp and clean the bridges after
Thanks, try this with the next module and use my fx-951 with a bended or chisel tip. With the conical tip on my weller station this messy.
da fuk is up with the music
I just
Why........ You........ Speaking........ Like................ That?
Because he only says valuable things. Less is more!
You've caught me, obviously I'm not an English native speaker and have a lot to learn.
i like the way he speak. It not the same any body in the world.
ya doing great old chap!
Damit wir es genau verstehen!