Part 1.

Soldering Series Resistors (Individual)

Components:

Resistors

- 1K 0.25W (2 pcs)
- 2K 0.25W (2 pcs)

Schematic Diagram

Computation

Formula:

Total Resistance in a Series:

RT = R1 + R2 + … + Rn

RT = 1k + 1K + 2K + 2K

RT = 6K Ω

Error = |True Value – Measured Value| / True Value

Error = |6 – 5.87| / 6
Error = 0.13 / 6
Error = 0.022

Accuracy = (1 - Error) * 100%

Accuracy = (1 – 0.022) * 100%
Accuracy = (0.978) * 100%
Accuracy = 97.8%

Measure Resistance across AB and determine the accuracy

Circuit Code Calculated Measured Error Accuracy (%)
Value (Ohms) Resistance
RT 6K 0.022 97.8%

Observation:
This is my first time soldering. The lab activity introduced us to soldering which is a
useful skill that might be useful to us one day. We are taught about the tools and
materials that are involved in soldering like the soldering iron which is the main tool of
soldering as it is used to heat up lead to melt it. It may come with an iron stand, a
dedicated stand for the soldering iron since you cant just place it anywhere since its still
hot. You also have the damp sponge used to clean the soldering iron of the lead that is
still sticking which could be useful in the lab activity if I have one, since my soldering
iron is dirty I had a hard time melting the lead. There are also the soldering pump that is
used to remove solder from the component since error may occur and you want to fix
that error. You remove the lead by melting it again then pumping it out of the
component, you can also use solder wick as an alternative. I also learned the proper
way to solder like holding it like a pen and how the perfect solder is the one that is shiny
and concave which is almost shaped like a volcano. Although I am taught on how to
recreate the perfect solder it is still a struggle to do especially as this is the first time that
I have done this.

I have first started my circuit by placing the components in the pcb based on the
schematics. Since I’m not familiar I have asked for help for verification of my placement
since I don’t know how to know what the ohms of a resistor, I observed the color differ
from each resistors and had learned that they signify how much resistance a resistor
has. I have noticed that distance doesn’t matter as long that they are wired or soldered
between two components. After making sure of the placements, I removed first the
resistors and solder them one by one to make sure that they will not be shorted if not
necessary, while soldering the smell from the lead is really strong, luckily I have my
facemask that time and since I am near sighted I have my face close to the component
I’m soldering which is very dangerous since there are times it will fly off debris which
could go to your eyes.. Then I connected the resistors so that they will be shorted hence
making it a series connection. After creating the circuit I set the dmm to the settings for
the resistor and then tested the resistance the resistance I got is 5.87 which is little short
the expected resistance which is 6.

Conclusion/Recommendation:
Through this lab activity I have learned the importance of soldering and gain a better
understanding of resistors. I concluded that through soldering we could connect
different components so that they will not only stay on the board but will also be shorted
so that electricity could flow through them. Soldering is also a dangerous process since
there are so many hazards, making learning of the precautions a must for the activity.
Having face mask and possibly goggles if you need to get close to see clearly too. Then
we must be very careful with the iron as it gets so hot with long time to cool down, you
could hurt someone or burn things if not handled properly. Also it is very messy
especially you are pumping many leads from mistakes that you have done so its nice to
have a replaceable mat for the activity. I also have observed that the measured
resistance is little short off from the expected resistance which is 6K Ω. The measured
resistance is 5.87 which has an accuracy of 98%. This possibly could because of the
quality of the solder that I have done. Since soldering is a delicate process where
proper technique should be done to attain the convex shape which is the proper result
that we should have. I recommend to solder more properly to achieve a more accurate
measured resistance. Since what I have done is so much improper, it decreases the
accuracy.

Part 2. Soldering Parallel Resistors (Individual)

Components:
Resistors:
- 5k 0.25 W (2 pcs)
Schematic Diagram:

Computation
1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 +… + 1/RN
1/RT = 1/5 + 1/5
1/RT = 2/5
RT = 5/2
RT = 2.5K Ω

Error = |True Value – Measured Value| / True Value

Error = |2.5 – 2.47| / 2.5
Error = 0.03 / 2.5
Error = 0.012

Accuracy = (1 - Error) * 100%

Accuracy = (1 – 0.012) * 100%
Accuracy =0.988 * 100%
Accuracy = 98.8%
Measure Resistance across AB and determine the accuracy
Circuit Code Calculated Measured Error Accuracy (%)
Value (Ohms) Resistance
RT 2.5K Ω 0.012 98.8%

Observation:
Since I have done it before and I have learned from what goes wrong from that time. I
had done this one at my home since it took so much time to finish the first activity
because of my dirty soldering iron taking so long to heat up and being inconsistent of its
heat because the thickness of the burnt layer of lead varies. This put me in a bad spot
and makes soldering so hard that it is. I also takes time by trying to perfect the solder by
making it into the concave shape but it takes much better skill and technique than what I
have now. This time I am prepared and had done the same where I have putted and
soldered the components one by one based on the given schema and then soldered
each end to connect them.

I have noticed the simplicity of the circuit and how high the resistance that have used
but the total resistance is lower than the components used. This time soldering have
became easier since I had the experience I did in school and because of the newly
bought soldering iron. After heating my iron I had tried to do again the concave shape
but still failing since I had learned from my mistakes, I only solder it until I had a decent
one then I had tested it which gave me a resistance of little error.

Conclusion/Recommendation:
Because of the experience I had, the soldering process is now easier. Also I had made
a parallel circuit which is different to a series. For one there is a different calculation for
the total resistance where it will decrease rather than add up. Its because of there are
more path for the current to go to making it decrease. That is why from the two 5k
resistors that we have just produce a total resistance of 2.5. After I solder the resistors I
had computed it using a dmm and then got 2.47 which bears an accuracy of 98.8%. It is
recommended for the solder to be better, just like what I have mentioned the solder
quality that I have done is only decent making it having much higher error than what I
should have.