Build woes

[rvsjimbo]

Hello,

I have just started building the Z1. I'm happy because it is a V3.5 board and so no SMD worries :-)

So, I got the micro SD card slot and the resistor network installed correctly, and then totally messed up the two multiway connectors for the the microcontroller.

I have had a bash at unsoldering with a solder sucker without success. My wife suggested a heat gun, and I have briefly tried with that, but not too much as I'm worried about damaging the board.

I'm thinking the only way may be to somehow cut the connector (maybe using a dremel) and then unsolder each pin in turn, and buy another two connectors.

Any suggestions (and justified name-calling!) welcome :-)

Thanks!

Paul.

[ronaldlw]

I managed to put one of the 2 x 8 pin headers on the wrong side of the board when putting together my S-132. I was able to de-solder it with my solder sucker. Then proceeded to re-solder it back the exact same way!! (much cursing ensued lol.. )

I didn't have any de-soldering wick at the time, I think that would have made it a lot easier. I have a heat gun, but had way too many parts already installed (I noticed this literally as I was trying to plug the completed board into the IMSAI) and I hadn't seen the trick with the heat resistant tape at this point, so I carefully used the solder sucker.

Main problem you run in there is a little bit of solder usually stays right where the pin touches some edge of the pad, what i do is use a screwdriver or something like that to carefully push the pin away from the sides while heating the joint and then when the solder melts take the soldering iron away and wait a sec for it to solidify again and hopefully that pin will be free.

get some of this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPTTFS5D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

or

The heat gun should work, find something to cover up any nearby parts, I've seen this stuff be used on some de soldering videos I've seen: https://www.amazon.com/Fyguard-Sublimation-Temperature-Resistant-Electronic/dp/B0DB8B2TD1?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Maybe aluminum foil would work too?

Don't use the highest temp the gun will output, try to find something just a little above the melting point of the solder.

I'd try to heat it up with the heat gun and hold onto the non-soldered part with some needle nose pliers and GENTLY pull. Once all the solder melts it should come out pretty easily.

Be careful and don't burn yourself :)

I think using something like a dremel would be more likely to cause more damage than help. If you don't care about the connector you'd probably be better off just using needle nose pliers on each pin and pull while de-soldering it and it'll just pull through the plastic header part.

Good luck!

[rvsjimbo]

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me.

I do have some solder wick (basically I looked at the suggested list of build tools etc and just went and got the lot from Amazon - this was before I knew I was not going to need to do any SMD soldering).

The heat gun I have has a fairly small nozzle - I actually bought it for use on heatshrink when fitting DCC decoders to model railway locos.

Interesting idea on using the alluminium foil, I might try that.

Thankfully, as I said not much on the board right now - just the resistor pack and the micro SD card slot.

My son (who I kept lecturing on reading the instructions and double-checking) will never let me forget this.

Cheerio, and thanks again for the response :-)

Paul.

[ronaldlw]

You're very welcome, I hope it helps.

Haha, kids are good at keeping us on our toes!

Please be sure to update us on your progress!

[rvsjimbo]

Had a quick E-mail conversation with Dave and he said the easiest way is just to destroy the original connectors and solder on some new ones, so the new ones are ordered, and I will remove the old ones pin by pin. I think thats probably safest for the board, and the connectors themselves are readily available on Amazon :-)

Photos, as I start the process...

Paul.