Anyone know how to solder electronics? - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone know how to solder electronics?

Posted: 7/27/2014 2:53:35 PM EDT

Hey guys,
Does anyone on here know how to solder electronics?
Or know someone who knows how to solder electronics?
The USB ports for some of our M4 Laser Tag guns fell off and it cost a lot of $$$ to buy a new motherboard.
They say its impossible to fix but Im not sure if I want to believe them.
If you guys know someone please let me know.
I'm located in Sterling Va in the NOVA region.

Posted: 7/27/2014 3:56:17 PM EDT

[#1]

If Henry and Ian were still there I'd say send one home with them and I'll see what I can do.

Posted: 7/27/2014 4:39:32 PM EDT

[#2]

I can but I am in Richmond. Good Luck. Might want to post up a picture of the USB port and how it is bonded to the board.

Posted: 7/27/2014 5:43:02 PM EDT

[#3]

I've done it before, but I'm in Hampton.

I second the motion to post pictures of the damage, easier to give odds on a successful repair with a visual.

Posted: 7/27/2014 5:59:16 PM EDT

[#4]

As mentioned pics would reveal who's capable and not. Some jobs require special tooling and/or a swift sodder as not to damage heat sensitive components.

Posted: 7/27/2014 6:32:37 PM EDT

[#5]

What size USB port is it?

Posted: 7/28/2014 11:01:51 AM EDT

[#6]

Hello all, You guys asked for pictures and here they are. I posted multiple pics for you guys to asses. Please let me know what you guys think about these and what you guys recommend. Thanks

Posted: 7/28/2014 12:34:08 PM EDT

[#7]

The USB port is in pretty good shape, but the lifted traces on the board will make it harder for a workable repair.

As a preventative measure for your others, reflowing the structural tabs with some silver solder may strengthen the bond to the board (or even regular solder, just something to encapsulate the tabs rather than just surface solder). Alternatively, some electrical safe epoxy on the edges may also help.

At any rate, if you do get someone to repair it, an undamaged board to verify the proper trace path would be advisable as a reference.

Posted: 7/28/2014 2:26:55 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload2_zps7b6565a2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload1_zpseb016010.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload_zpsc6151c78.jpg

Hello all, You guys asked for pictures and here they are. I posted multiple pics for you guys to asses. Please let me know what you guys think about these and what you guys recommend. Thanks

View Quote

those traces are destroyed, that's gonna be a miserable job

it's possible to repair it, but likely not practical - I know you said a new board is $$$ but so is labor

Posted: 7/28/2014 2:30:17 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

those traces are destroyed, that's gonna be a miserable job

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload2_zps7b6565a2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload1_zpseb016010.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload_zpsc6151c78.jpg

Hello all, You guys asked for pictures and here they are. I posted multiple pics for you guys to asses. Please let me know what you guys think about these and what you guys recommend. Thanks

those traces are destroyed, that's gonna be a miserable job

That is going to suck.. I guess you could try tacking in at the original joint but it is going to look like a spaghetti factory.

Posted: 7/28/2014 6:32:42 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload2_zps7b6565a2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload1_zpseb016010.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/securedownload_zpsc6151c78.jpg

Hello all, You guys asked for pictures and here they are. I posted multiple pics for you guys to asses. Please let me know what you guys think about these and what you guys recommend. Thanks

View Quote

Nice mess you have there. You can fix it with some fine wire and some electrical adhesive and epoxy . Given the rough service they appear to have suffered I am not sure the repair would last very long though.

Posted: 7/31/2014 9:41:28 AM EDT

[#11]

Hey 1stGenCRXer and GlocksareGood,
I used to live off of Hampton, do you think one of you guys could fix it based off the pictures?
I might be going down that way sometime in the next month or two.
If any yall got a quote we have about 5 of them.
Let me know.

Posted: 7/31/2014 11:08:14 AM EDT

[#12]

Can you take a picture of the back of the board. I may be able to get out Elec. engineer to fix them. It looks like you will have to run wires to fix the tracks.

Posted: 7/31/2014 12:10:20 PM EDT

[#13]

Bottom is the good one, Top is the bad one. Front and back.

Thank you.

Posted: 7/31/2014 12:22:45 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/SuddenCombat/image_zpsec49005d.jpeg

Bottom is the good one, Top is the bad one. Front and back.

Thank you.

View Quote

the top one in that picture has no trace damage, it would be easy to repair

in any case, you should definitely take 1stGenCRXer's advice about reinforcing the tabs on all of your USB ports. otherwise I suspect they will all break before long

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:53:10 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hey 1stGenCRXer and GlocksareGood,
I used to live off of Hampton, do you think one of you guys could fix it based off the pictures?
I might be going down that way sometime in the next month or two.
If any yall got a quote we have about 5 of them.
Let me know.

View Quote

I could give it a go, with the traces as they are, can't give any guarantees though, PM inbound.

Posted: 8/1/2014 8:48:55 AM EDT

[#16]

Man, that'd be really tight to try and replace the traces with wire wrap wire.

I hate SMDs.

Posted: 8/1/2014 1:20:08 PM EDT

[#17]

It can be fixed..I do it all the time. Unfortunately I am out from work for an extended time or I'd offer to take care of it.

Find a tech or repair operator who works in the contract electronics manufacturing arena, that's what I do, and they should be able to take care of it.

Best of luck.

Posted: 8/2/2014 1:54:42 PM EDT

[#18]

I will be happy to give it a try too. Just let me know. It would be helpful to get a complete unit to whoever fixes it to make sure whatever gets done to the port to reinforce it will not interfere with the fit.

Posted: 8/2/2014 6:53:45 PM EDT

[#19]

I've sent an IM to suddencombat with my contact info and work schedule, haven't heard anything back yet.

One of my other (expensive) hobbies is RC, so I have a pretty good amount of servo wire that would do the job on the damaged trace boards without looking like a total hack job.

Whoever ends up doing it, pictures would be appreciated.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone know how to solder electronics?

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