[konschubert]

Thank you for mentioning KiCAD, these are the kind of keywords that will help me get started :D

PS: And yes, while I really suck at soldering, working with physical products feels like a nice counter weight to the software world.

[StavrosK]

KiCAD is amazing, and it's all you'll need (apart from the prototype on the breadboard).

The trick to soldering is really to get a good iron, I underestimated it at the start but you really need something that keeps heat. Get a TS100 and set it to 320, soldering is going to be a breeze afterwards.

Remember, solder should flow easily and stick to the pads/wires, if it doesn't, it means you need to heat the thing up a bit more.

[konschubert]

I my iron shoes 400 degrees in the display but somehow the pads/wires don’t heat enough to melt the solder.

It’s really weird. Maybe I messed up the tip somehow? But I just got it a few days ago!

[StavrosK]

Which iron is it? Maybe it's miscalibrated? Does the solder melt if you touch it to the tip?

[konschubert]

It melts. But only at high temperatures above 300. Even though the soldier is supposed to melt at 219.

The iron is a LONOVE 925 m.

[konschubert]

Maybe I need to try tinning the tip again.

[StavrosK]

Yeah, sounds like it. Make sure the tip is tinned when touching the pads so heat transfer can occur more effectively.