Any Soldering Pros out there??

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:09 pm

HI Guys/Gals.

I just had a Megasquirt built by 'Braineack' from MT.net and he forgot to solder on the U3 Chip which controls Aircon i believe.
He sent me an email stating that he forgot and to just do it myself.
Problem is it is way too small and technical for my highschool soldering skills :oops:

Small chip with about 10 little legs onto a pcb.

Is there anyone in Sydney who would be able to help or know of somewhere to go?
I tried 2 Jaycars and a Dicksmith. They all looked at me like i was crazy.
Tried to sell me soldering irons.

Any help would be ever so much appreciated!!

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:48 pm

i can do it if you can't find anyone local.

i recommend you buy a little socket for the chip rather than solder it straight on the PCB.

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:57 pm

Wow that's a pain D - Brain must be losing it.

FWIW, my Brain DIYPNP is behaving itself perfectly. If only my tuning skills matched the ability of the unit!

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:03 pm

Thanks for the offer Locutus!!
Might take you up on that if i can not find anyone.

Zossy, yeah Brain kinda of screwed me on this.
Everything else arrived, but if i could solder it myself why would have i have paid him to do it?
Bit pissed, anyways, done now.

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:16 pm

I go alright. Maybe come to the the newcastle meetup sunday?

Dann

noobee · Postby **noobee** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:44 pm

sockets have their pluses and minuses,safer to solder,especially if iron is too big or unaccustomed to soldering semiconductors,also easy to replace.but if subject to vibration or many heat/cooling cycles chips have a tendency to walk out of the socket (it takes a long time tho) unless you have some other retention mechanism.
try a tv repair shop if there's any left,those guys are probably starving,lol.
in the back of silicon chip magazine there is a couple of guys who advertise kit assembly and repair,but dont know if they are in sydney
you probably would have done better asking the jaycar customers.
Mick

japester · Postby **japester** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:35 pm

Locutus wrote:i can do it if you can't find anyone local.

i recommend you buy a little socket for the chip rather than solder it straight on the PCB.

uh, no. definitely do not socket the chip. The vibration in the car will shake it right out. I'd give it a week at most.

Find someone who can do it right, good soldering does require some fine level hand-eye co-ordination.
Also make utterances about the warranty - state that this is not your field of expertise, and that if it gets screwed up, you expect a replacement. It was supposed to have been sold to you complete, right?

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:06 pm

Braineak is a nice guy of the forums who has helped many people. The chip is a silly oversight, fair enough. But he is in america, he cant do much now, Ill solder the chip on, Come to the newcastle meetup

Dann

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:08 pm

It was supposed to be yeah.
Guess thats what happens when you trust some guy off a forum overseas with your hard earned Hahaha
Lesson learnt.

Just did not think it would be this hard to find a solderer.
Good idea to look for a tv repair man.

Does anyone know if i run without the chip will that just mean the aircon won't work but everything else will?

I just want to get tuning

Can always add the chip later.

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sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:16 pm

Out of interest what did the built unit cost you all up?

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Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:22 pm

By memory 550 odd usd. For ms3x with all the goodies.

Dann

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:03 am

I just got the ms2 and that was about $650 delivered.
Bit hard to work out cos i also got a lc1+gauge+ait sensor+usb to serial.
All up delivered for under a grand.

Thanks for the offer Dann.
I would totally take you up except i am at the "to be"inlaws this weekend. Ughh Hahaha

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:33 am

hiiii, soldering is thee one thing i can do!!! i soldered something like 100 tiny LED's for my art major work, all controlled with about ten 555 timer chips onto a pcb
heres a pic for scale

Is your job bigger or smaller than this? also i live in chatswood which is very local to you

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:03 am

Brain did right by me - I guess we all have a "Brain fart" from time to time (pardon the pun) but it is still a PITA for Mark. I can totally relate as my soldering skills are crap too. If they weren't, I would have built my own PNP... ;)