Soldering.

[SPECK]

Ok, I could not figure out why my Angel wasn't charging and I finnaly brought myself to opening up the charger.

I see a wire that is unattached from the board and need to reconnect it (obivously)

HOW do I do it? Soldering gun?

Thanks

[Muzikman]

a low watt soldering iron. 20w or so and a careful hand. I don't know what the inside looks like, but you have to make sure you don't run any solder points together. Your best bet if you have never soldered is to take it to someone who has.

[SPECK]

I have 1/4 inch at most of distance between this point and the one next to it.


I think I could do it. I have never used one before though.

[Muzikman]

Well, get a 20w from radio shack. You want an iron, not a gun. Pick up thin silver solder (Resin core if you have never soldered before). I would practice on something you don't care about before you try the charger. Soldering is not hard, but it is an art.

[ultralight]

read alot of online tutorials, go to the bookstore and read books on soldering. and most importantly, go to the goodwill or thrift store and buy some cheap electronics to practice on.
this will help to farmiliarize you with the way solder acts and moves.

you might also want to get that "cold heat" soldering iron that you see on tv. they sell it at home depot now and it only costs a bit more than a quality soldering iron.

that's another thing, you want a soldering iron, not a gun, most guns are too big for what youre doing. if you decide to go with a soldering iron over the cold heat gadget then go to radioshack and get one specifically designed for electronics, just tell them what you're donig and they'll help you get what you need. you don't want to screw up your angel because you didn't use the right tool.

good luck.

edit: ha! same time, same response, nice.

[SPECK]

Ok, thanks a bunch guys!

[Jaan]

If you're one of these "tinker" guys you might want to just buy a good one to have. You'll end up using it if you do, and you like to fix or make your own stuff. Get one at a good (NOT Radio Shack lol) electronics place. It's a basic hand tool like a drill or hammer these days.

I don't like those "cold solder" irons. Not enough mass. Once you get used to soldering you'll realize it's important to have an iron that won't cool down too fast. Some components that you solder have large areas that act like heat sinks ... some actually have heat sinks ... so you have to throw a lot of heat to get things to solder well.

[Muzikman]

I have been using soldering irons for years and except for the high end Wellers, the Radio Shack ones work just as well. And seeing as you can pickup a 20w iron from radio shack for less than $15 it's a good deal.

Personally I have two Weller stations at home, but I also have a cheap Radio Shack one that I carry my in gear box.

Also, avoid the Cold Heat. They are fine for the craft type work, but are not suited for electronics.

[Asym]

the cold irons are crap, it melts the solder real nice but it won't stick to anything if theres no heat on the piece your joining it to.

[SPECK]

Ok, so a 20W Radio-Shack.

[Puckz]

Cold Heat soldering tools get way to hot for soldering on a circuit board. If its just wires they work great.

[slade]

i cant get the damn cold heat soldering iron to work anywhere. use a traditional one. its what works.

[MarkM]

The advice is good, get a proper soldering iron.
Practise on joing a few wires together first, also that is one of the more difficult jobs to do so helps long term, try not to "dab" with the soldering iron heat and let the solder flow. Remember to "tin" that is apply solder to the wire you are attaching first and then put the two parts together holding the iron on them to let the solder flow and be ready to add more solder when doing this.

The simple steps

• Cut back the wire
• Strip off the insulation slightly longer than you will use
• Twist the wire
• "Tin" the wire
• Use the soldering iron to make the "tinning" neat
• Cut off a little from the end of the "tinned" wire
• Apply the wire to the board being prepared to add more solder and allow the solder to flow
• The wire should be poking right through the board now, so trim off the excess wire with a pair of side cutters

The charger is one of the more simple parts of an Angel as there is plenty of fresh air inside so you shouldn't have any problems.

[Tunaman]

The advice is good, get a proper soldering iron.
Practise on joing a few wires together first, also that is one of the more difficult jobs to do so helps long term, try not to "dab" with the soldering iron heat and let the solder flow. Remember to "tin" that is apply solder to the wire you are attaching first and then put the two parts together holding the iron on them to let the solder flow and be ready to add more solder when doing this.

The simple steps

• Cut back the wire
• Strip off the insulation slightly longer than you will use
• Twist the wire
• "Tin" the wire
• Use the soldering iron to make the "tinning" neat
• Cut off a little from the end of the "tinned" wire
• Apply the wire to the board being prepared to add more solder and allow the solder to flow
• The wire should be poking right through the board now, so trim off the excess wire with a pair of side cutters

The charger is one of the more simple parts of an Angel as there is plenty of fresh air inside so you shouldn't have any problems.

Marks advice is good, but I wouldn't tin or solder the wire BEFORE sticking it through the board. You may need a de-soldering pump to get the old solder off the board before inserting the new wire. Keep the solder to a minimum, as loads of solder tends to heat up real fast and ruin components.

[rkjunior303]

Marks advice is good, but I wouldn't tin or solder the wire BEFORE sticking it through the board. You may need a de-soldering pump to get the old solder off the board before inserting the new wire. Keep the solder to a minimum, as loads of solder tends to heat up real fast and ruin components.

you may be able to just tack the wire to the preexisting solder on the board, too.. try putting it on where it connects and heat up the wire with the iron -- if there is enough solder there, it will heat up too and fuse with the wire.