Can't solder..is there an alternative

dc42 · #1 18-11-2003, 10:20

Here's the deal. I have a x2.2Lite+ installed. The problem is it keeps moving and I have to open the thing up and realign it.

I was on another board and saw that guys have been soldering a wire to DO and the top of the contact post on the chip. This solves the problem because you can tighten the chip down enough that the remaining contacts stay put.

The thing is I can't solder at all and don't know anyone who can. I saw some stuff by the soldering stuff at Home Depot. It was a room temperature flexible conductive silver epoxy adhesive. It is touted as an alternative to solder that will bond at room temp to metal, plastic and ceramic materials. Has anyone ever seen this stuff, or does it sound like anyhting that will work?

Is there a place I can go to learn how to solder a wire to DO...a site with pictures and specific directions. I may have to give it a shot!!

vincer20 · #2 18-11-2003, 10:58

i hade the same problem i did not tighten the screw enough

rms2001 · #3 18-11-2003, 11:15

Simple method to preparing your "D0" point <--- Click that

You mite also want to consider the Alternative D0 spot as well.

dc42 · #4 18-11-2003, 14:59

Quote:

Originally posted by rms2001
Simple method to preparing your "D0" point <--- Click that

You mite also want to consider the Alternative D0 spot as well.

So are you saying that I should try scraping the D0 and see if that gives me a better connection when the chip is tightened more?

I had a question about soldering the wire. If I solder the wire and connect it is there a chance that the point on the chip that is sopposed to contact the D0 can short out on another spot on the board because it is also connected to the D0??

AXmichigan · #5 18-11-2003, 15:28

if u mess up a d0 point
ur screwed
but it tkaes a lot to mess it up
look at xbox-scene's tutorials
they give alotta help to the d0 point
personally
id just get the nonsolder attachment

rms2001 · #6 18-11-2003, 21:08

I wouldnt do any thing to the D0 unless you plan to solder it.
I would also go for the alternative D0 if you plan to solder, this way you dont mess up the top D0.

Also, dont worry about the D0 pin shorting out other stuff. If you are, out a small peace of tape under the pin.

dc42 · #7 19-11-2003, 05:21

I have it now.

First I took a small screw driver and got the film off of the D0 point. Then I took a piece of double sided tape and a thin piece of cardboard and put it on the back of the chip to hold up the lower left corner of the chip (if your facing the front of the box). This kept the chip from flexing so much that it lost contact with D0. I took the box and bumped it around a little bit and it worked fine.

I think I'll try this for a while before I try doing something I'm not comfortable doing...soldering that is!!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

JiveTurkey · #8 19-11-2003, 19:39

Soldering is not that hard if you practice (goes for a lot of things!

) I wouldnt do it any other way. My advice is to buy a small soldering iron - a "pencil" type of low wattage - and practice on some junk motherboards or video cards or whatever.

My other free tip is to cover the parts of the board you are not soldering with something to prevent accidents. Dropping hot solder or the iron on places it shouldnt be is an expensive and frustrating habit and it doesnt hurt to have some insurance. Even layin fat greasy hands across delicate electronics isnt a great idea.

rms2001 · #9 19-11-2003, 21:03

Soldering the D0 is also easier than soldering the LPC points.
Just clean the D0 very well, make sure you don’t damage the trace or any thing. Put a small amount of flux in the D0 hole.
Tin the end of the D0 wire (meaning put a small amount of solder on it) and stick it in the D0. Than touch the soldering iron to the wire for about 1 or 2 sec. The solder at the end of the wire should fuse with the D0 creating good contact. Don’t hold the soldering iron the wire to long, you mite get it to hot and burn up the trace or even melt the board.
If the solder dose not melt into the D0 the first time around, take a deep breath and try again. Just keep trying 'til you get it. Also you can nenver use to much flux.

DLock · #10 20-11-2003, 00:51

Don't use the washer just the screw took care of the problem for me.

dc42 · #11 20-11-2003, 05:20

Ok...I have a buddy that is an electrition that said he could do it no problem. I saw someone mentioned an alternate D0..is there a such thing?

If there is would I be better off soldering the wire to that point then running it to my 2.2 Lite +? Where is it located on a V1.0 box?

rms2001 · #12 20-11-2003, 06:12

Quote:

I saw someone mentioned an alternate D0..is there a such thing

You need to go back and read this whole post...

dc42 · #13 20-11-2003, 12:18

I appreciate all the suggestions from everyone but can someone tell me this.

Is it a bad idea to solder a wire from the D0 point to the top of the pin on the chip? As long as the wire is soldered correctly into the board could this solution cause any problems??

Thanks again everyone....I just want to get this done!!!