Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "sbdwag" <sbdwag@...> wrote:
>
> Enclosed below a photo of my first attemp at etching. 
> 
> http://www.wagsterstuff.com/photos/pnpsuccess.jpg

> One comment its difficult to solder directly onto the ground plane
> with a 40watt iron because the heat is transfered away so quickly. 
> Any good solutions to soldering onto a ground plane.

Commercial layout programs have a pad with 1 to 4 very short radial
traces connecting it across a larger hole.  This is called a thermal
or thermal isolator.