Hi,
I would like to know if anyone have experience with PCBs with immersion silver vs immersion gold. Is the silver plating offer a better conductibility ?
It doesn't have a big difference in price. I'm asking because I have virtually no experience with PCB manufacturing and need what could be the best choice for an SS amplifier PCB.
I would like to know if anyone have experience with PCBs with immersion silver vs immersion gold. Is the silver plating offer a better conductibility ?
It doesn't have a big difference in price. I'm asking because I have virtually no experience with PCB manufacturing and need what could be the best choice for an SS amplifier PCB.
Over several decades of audio PCB design I never needed such fancy toppings. Maybe there is some advantage in aggressive air, at the seaside - I do not know.
Silver is better in conductivity than gold, and than copper too. Immersion silver plating puts silver over copper directly, unlike immersion gold which is nickel over copper then gold over nickel. At my work some of our RF products require immersion silver PCB finish. But immersion silver is a much more delicate finish than gold, and easily tarnished. You simply don't want to touch it not in gloves. Silver finished PCB has a much shorter shelf life than gold finished.
For audio, including digital audio, especially diy projects, there is no reason using immersion silver, nor immersion gold if not for aesthetic appearance. Tin-lead hot air leveling, or HASL, is the most suitable choice in my opinion, followed by lead-free HASL if required.
For audio, including digital audio, especially diy projects, there is no reason using immersion silver, nor immersion gold if not for aesthetic appearance. Tin-lead hot air leveling, or HASL, is the most suitable choice in my opinion, followed by lead-free HASL if required.
The only benefit of such fancy PCB finishes is better planarity than HASL for SMT solder paste printing.
If the stencil is not perfectly planar on the PCB due to slight HASL solder bumps on the pads, the solder paste may easily spill and create a mess on the board.
Gold looks precious, but as mentioned earlier, has nickel underneath, which is ferromagnetic.
Many of the chemical finishes (except gold over nickel) have a short shelf life since they are meant to be cheap and the boards to be soldered soon.
HASL is the best finish for hand soldering.
If the stencil is not perfectly planar on the PCB due to slight HASL solder bumps on the pads, the solder paste may easily spill and create a mess on the board.
Gold looks precious, but as mentioned earlier, has nickel underneath, which is ferromagnetic.
Many of the chemical finishes (except gold over nickel) have a short shelf life since they are meant to be cheap and the boards to be soldered soon.
HASL is the best finish for hand soldering.
Hi,
Thank you very much for the informations. Gold plating is definitively not a good option for my needs. And if I understand correctly, silver plating could be used but only if I welded my parts as soon as I received the boards. And for a long shelf life, HASL will be the best option. I think my choice will be HASL.
Thank you very much for the informations. Gold plating is definitively not a good option for my needs. And if I understand correctly, silver plating could be used but only if I welded my parts as soon as I received the boards. And for a long shelf life, HASL will be the best option. I think my choice will be HASL.
Silver is used in pcb and coils at RF because its higher conductivity helps increase the RF path and thus the Q of coils. But at audio frequencies, the extra cost is of no benefit.
I have used it a lot on microwave PCB's. These boards were used as soon as possible after receiving and were conformal coated with parylene.
The product was Sterling™ by Macdermid.
If they don't come in the silver saver paper they will corrode more quicky than any plating I have worked with.
The finish is very solderable and quite nice when new. It will mercilessly reveal fingerprints and if like most DIY PCB's will not be conformal coated will look awful after a few months; especially if in a warm (power amp) project.
The product was Sterling™ by Macdermid.
If they don't come in the silver saver paper they will corrode more quicky than any plating I have worked with.
The finish is very solderable and quite nice when new. It will mercilessly reveal fingerprints and if like most DIY PCB's will not be conformal coated will look awful after a few months; especially if in a warm (power amp) project.
Hello,Can be compared
Choosing between immersion silver and immersion gold for your PCB (Printed Circuit Board) depends on various factors, including your specific application and requirements. Both silver and gold are viable surface finish options for PCBs, but they have different characteristics:
1. Immersion Silver (ENIG - Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold):
- Cost: Typically, immersion silver is more cost-effective than immersion gold.
- Solderability: Immersion silver provides good solderability, which is essential for assembly.
- Conductivity: While silver is a better conductor than gold, the immersion silver layer is relatively thin, so the difference in conductivity between immersion silver and gold-plated PCBs is generally negligible for most applications.
- Corrosion Resistance: Immersion silver may be more prone to tarnishing and corrosion in harsh environments compared to immersion gold.
2. Immersion Gold (ENIG):
- Cost: Immersion gold is generally more expensive than immersion silver.
- Solderability: It offers excellent solderability and is often preferred for fine-pitch components and surface-mount technology (SMT) assembly.
- Conductivity: Gold is an excellent conductor, but the gold layer on PCBs is also relatively thin. In practice, the difference in conductivity between immersion gold and silver may not be significant for most applications.
- Corrosion Resistance: Gold is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, making it a good choice for applications in challenging environments.
For an SS (solid-state) amplifier PCB, either option can work, but immersion gold is often preferred due to its excellent solderability and corrosion resistance. It provides a reliable surface finish for electronic components and ensures stable electrical connections.
请记住，表面光洁度的选择只是 PCB 设计的一方面。PCB 材料、布局和元件选择等其他因素也会影响放大器的性能。如果您在 PCB 制造方面的经验有限，最好咨询经验丰富的 PCB 设计师或制造商，以确保您的设计满足您的特定要求。
https://www.lzjpcb.com
Choosing between immersion silver and immersion gold for your PCB (Printed Circuit Board) depends on various factors, including your specific application and requirements. Both silver and gold are viable surface finish options for PCBs, but they have different characteristics:
1. Immersion Silver (ENIG - Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold):
- Cost: Typically, immersion silver is more cost-effective than immersion gold.
- Solderability: Immersion silver provides good solderability, which is essential for assembly.
- Conductivity: While silver is a better conductor than gold, the immersion silver layer is relatively thin, so the difference in conductivity between immersion silver and gold-plated PCBs is generally negligible for most applications.
- Corrosion Resistance: Immersion silver may be more prone to tarnishing and corrosion in harsh environments compared to immersion gold.
2. Immersion Gold (ENIG):
- Cost: Immersion gold is generally more expensive than immersion silver.
- Solderability: It offers excellent solderability and is often preferred for fine-pitch components and surface-mount technology (SMT) assembly.
- Conductivity: Gold is an excellent conductor, but the gold layer on PCBs is also relatively thin. In practice, the difference in conductivity between immersion gold and silver may not be significant for most applications.
- Corrosion Resistance: Gold is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, making it a good choice for applications in challenging environments.
For an SS (solid-state) amplifier PCB, either option can work, but immersion gold is often preferred due to its excellent solderability and corrosion resistance. It provides a reliable surface finish for electronic components and ensures stable electrical connections.
请记住，表面光洁度的选择只是 PCB 设计的一方面。PCB 材料、布局和元件选择等其他因素也会影响放大器的性能。如果您在 PCB 制造方面的经验有限，最好咨询经验丰富的 PCB 设计师或制造商，以确保您的设计满足您的特定要求。
https://www.lzjpcb.com