Soldering help

[AbecX]

I'm trying to rig up this radar detector to be a remote mount ( basically just relocating the LED display ), however I keep fucking up, I think my iron is just putting out way to much heat and its melting the circuit board as the leads are just melting away. Do they have less heat output irons and solder to get with them? I picked up a $20 iron from fry's.

[heavychevy]

you should be able to find a cheap iron that has a dial to vary the heat range. I bought on like that to soder on circuit boards and it worked great. I cant remember where i found mine, but id guess radioshack should have a selection..

[8mpg]

[QUOTE=AbecX]I'm trying to rig up this radar detector to be a remote mount ( basically just relocating the LED display ), however I keep fucking up, I think my iron is just putting out way to much heat and its melting the circuit board as the leads are just melting away. Do they have less heat output irons and solder to get with them? I picked up a $20 iron from fry's.[/QUOTE]

its not to much heat.. Make sure you tin the tip of the soldering iron, go ahead and tin the wire, then put small bit of solder on the circuit board (if you can). Then put the wire on the board where it goes (on the bit of solder on the board if possible), then put the soldering iron on top of the wire. The hot solder on the tip should melt the solder on the wire and on the board pretty darn quick. Pull off the iron and hold the wire still for a sec or two and you should be good.

[KJ94GT]

You'd think the "Internet God" would at least know how to solder... sheesh ;)

[Hollywood]

Whats the voltage on that iron? Usually the cheap one's are the weaker ones. Sounds like you may be holding the iron to the board too long.

[momo stallion]

15v is what i use for circuit boards

also listen to what 8mpg said

[8mpg]

also, how thick is the wire? Maybe you are going overkill and you are trying to heat the wire to much to get a good feed of lead in. LEDs can feed off of 20-22ga wire.

[Cooter]

I've got a Dell MOBO I need two contacts re-soldered... help? :confused:

[NeedleSharp]

[QUOTE=Cooter]I've got a Dell MOBO I need two contacts re-soldered... help? :confused:[/QUOTE]

step one: go to radio shack and buy a ~10 watt soldering gun
step two: solder the broken contact back
step three:????
step four: profit!

[8mpg]

[QUOTE=Cooter]I've got a Dell MOBO I need two contacts re-soldered... help? :confused:[/QUOTE]

soldering on a circuit board can be tricky. Get teh sharp point tip on the iron and tin it with a bit of solder. Its not that hard

[PWTRTXSS]

You just need to practice on some scraps with the tips you are getting from here.

[Hunt4m3x]

[QUOTE=NeedleSharp]step one: go to radio shack and buy a ~10 watt soldering gun
step two: solder the broken contact back
step three:????
step four: profit![/QUOTE]

FIXED. needs 4! ????

[NeedleSharp]

[QUOTE=Hunt4m3x]FIXED. needs 4! ????[/QUOTE]

fuk, how dare i... im sorry...

*FIXED*

[bard]

Don't forget that leds need a heat sink while soldering.

[ceyko]

It has been years since I did any soldering. So, I'm not going to act like an expert but I do remember a little goes a long way and go very very slowly.

I'm not familiar with the type of job you're doing, but is there an alternative to soldering by any chance?

[Cooter]

[QUOTE=8mpg]soldering on a circuit board can be tricky. Get teh sharp point tip on the iron and tin it with a bit of solder. Its not that hard[/QUOTE]

I'd rather get someone who's confident in their abilities and pay them to do it

[JimD]

[QUOTE=KJ94GT]You'd think the "Internet God" would at least know how to solder... sheesh ;)[/QUOTE]
LOL!

[5.0_CJ]

[QUOTE=AbecX]I'm trying to rig up this radar detector to be a remote mount ( basically just relocating the LED display ), however I keep fucking up, I think my iron is just putting out way to much heat and its melting the circuit board as the leads are just melting away. Do they have less heat output irons and solder to get with them? I picked up a $20 iron from fry's.[/QUOTE]

Yes, there are different power soldering irons. Frys sells 20w and 60w. The 60w is ridiculous for anyone who doesnt know exactly what they are doing. first, get some flux so you can get the solder to stick, clear the contact area off first. with 60w of power - if you are soldering a wire to a circuit board, hold the tip against the exposed wire for a few seconds to heat it up, then tap yoru solder against the other side of the wire to feed the solder through the wire itself - dont heat the solder, heat the wire. feed in enough to where it starts to ball up and then flick it with your finger. Now, heat the wire up again and then tap your circuit and wedge the wire in between, in a few seconds you will see the solder turn glossy - pull the iron off and blow on it for a few seconds. Never leave an iron with that much power on your board for any more than a few seconds.

If you need some help ..I'm in arlington.

[NeedleSharp]

it really shouldnt be that complicated... you should wait a few minutes for the soldering iron to heat up all the way and it shouldnt take more than 2 seconds to melt the metal... i know i use 40w for most things and it melts the solder on contact...