4 ms·

Yes, but if you do have to design a PCB for soldering wires to pads, you can increase the strength of the pad by making the pad much larger in the copper layer.

Yes, but if you do have to design a PCB for soldering wires to pads, you can increase the strength of the pad by making the pad much larger in the copper layer. You can still keep it the original smaller size in the solder resist layer; keeping the soldering area away from the pad edge and fragile traces there increases the strength further, and gives it a tidy look and a nice soldering experience. For quick one offs, simply place a normal pad, place a copper fill polygon connected to the same net around the pad, and turn off thermal reliefs / set pad connection to solid for the polygon. Obviously if you need it a lot, draw a new footprint.

gw99 4y ago
You should even really do that. There are loads of nice solder in crimp terminations now that you can use for wires. Or wire to board connectors. Just stay away from any Molex crap. Tends to charcoal itself.
- buescher 4y ago
  There are some really cool surface mount IDC things too, and push-in terminators for solid wire. Solid wire through holes is OK if the wire is never going to flex. Otherwise the stranded wire lapped to surface mount pads, or soldered into through holes, with a big blob of hot glue or epoxy for maybe-sorta "strain relief" is a great pet peeve of mine - it's ugly and it breaks. Never had a problem with Molex, myself.
  - exmadscientist 4y ago
    Molex is great if you get the reflow-compatible models. Their older lines with the non-updated parts do have some issues at high temperatures. If you really care, look for glow wire tested parts. Or just, y'know, keep your iron away from them and buy spares for when you don't....
  - gw99 4y ago
    It's the .154" Molex stuff that tends to melt after 20 years spontaneously. Not sure what plating they use bit it turns into a power dissipating resistor after a bit which is not good when you're shoving a few amps through it.
exmadscientist 4y ago
Nope. Do it that way and your pad still rips off. You need to nail the pad down with a few vias (under soldermask is fine) or use a through hole. Please just use a through hole if you can. They're a lot more reliable than just about anything else. Even SMT connectors rip off boards without much trouble. (This is my job. I have seen some things.)
- deleted 4y ago
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gw99 4y ago

You should even really do that. There are loads of nice solder in crimp terminations now that you can use for wires. Or wire to board connectors. Just stay away from any Molex crap. Tends to charcoal itself.

buescher 4y ago
There are some really cool surface mount IDC things too, and push-in terminators for solid wire. Solid wire through holes is OK if the wire is never going to flex. Otherwise the stranded wire lapped to surface mount pads, or soldered into through holes, with a big blob of hot glue or epoxy for maybe-sorta "strain relief" is a great pet peeve of mine - it's ugly and it breaks. Never had a problem with Molex, myself.
- exmadscientist 4y ago
  Molex is great if you get the reflow-compatible models. Their older lines with the non-updated parts do have some issues at high temperatures. If you really care, look for glow wire tested parts. Or just, y'know, keep your iron away from them and buy spares for when you don't....
- gw99 4y ago
  It's the .154" Molex stuff that tends to melt after 20 years spontaneously. Not sure what plating they use bit it turns into a power dissipating resistor after a bit which is not good when you're shoving a few amps through it.

exmadscientist 4y ago

Nope. Do it that way and your pad still rips off. You need to nail the pad down with a few vias (under soldermask is fine) or use a through hole. Please just use a through hole if you can. They're a lot more reliable than just about anything else. Even SMT connectors rip off boards without much trouble. (This is my job. I have seen some things.)

deleted 4y ago
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