Soldering of Reed Switches

Soldering Reed Switches and Reed Sensors requires meticulous handling to safeguard these delicate components against inadvertent damage. Potential consequences of improper soldering range from minor shifts in operate AT or magnetic sensitivity, leading to incorrect actuation distances, to more severe issues such as compromising the hermetic seal integrity, which could result in premature failure or rendering the devices unusable.

Manual soldering of reed switch leads becomes necessary in scenarios involving custom plastic housings with external cables. This process involves carefully cropping the reed switches to the required length and then soldering them to the cables. During soldering, specific guidelines must be adhered to for optimal results.

The leads of a reed switch typically consist of a combination of approximately 50% nickel and 50% iron, often plated with gold or tin post-assembly to facilitate quality soldering or welding connections. While the coefficients of thermal expansion between the leads and the glass-to-metal seal are closely matched, the rapid heating involved in soldering can cause the metal to expand more quickly than the glass seal can accommodate. This thermal mismatch can potentially lead to loosening or cracking of the glass-to-metal seal, compromising the reed switch’s integrity.

To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to solder cables approximately 6-8 mm away from the seal to minimize thermal stress. The dwell time for manual soldering on reed switch leads should ideally be kept under 2 seconds to prevent excessive heating. Alternatively, using a heat sink between the soldering point and the glass seal can help dissipate heat effectively, reducing the risk of thermal damage.

According to industry standards and best practices, precise control over soldering parameters is crucial to ensure consistent performance and reliability of soldered reed switch assemblies across various applications, including automotive electronics, medical devices, and industrial automation. Manufacturers and technicians follow these protocols to uphold product quality and longevity, minimizing the likelihood of soldering-related defects or failures.