Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

[retiredcaps]

Just saw this youtube video where one guy replaced and recapped 12 motherboard caps in about 3 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHeZyQ1e8i4

Can someone explain the equipment and procedure that he is using. There is no description in his post.

It takes me 4 minutes per cap/per hole IF I'm lucky.

[mariushm]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Looks to me like a do it yourself solder pot...

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/100w-te...den-220v-48762

He probably uses hot air gun or gas heater to warm 60/40 solder to melting point and used that flux paste to break the surface tension...

The leads of the new capacitors are covered in that resin and when he pushes the new capacitors inside, the solder will go up the leads by itself..

At least that's what I think happens there.

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Yeah, looks like a hot air rework station heating a small pot\tray of solder.

Looks pretty clever, I was worried he would overheat the board but I guess it works

Well, unless you had SMDs on the other side...

[mariushm]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

This looks even better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotat...7kU&feature=iv

I wonder how hard it would be to make something like that..

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

That's. So. Easy.

I want that machine!

[momaka]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

This guy can recap a motherboard faster than I can plug my soldering iron in the wall .

[ratdude747]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

aww... those machines take the FUN out of recapping!

spoiled ****s!

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Should start a project to make these...

What would you need?

Just some sort of table, the nozzle thing, a heater and a pump that can handle liquid lead.... Hmmm...

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBeLnX7IDrY

This looks like the easiest way to make something like this.

Seems to be a block of metal with a heater inside, and a tube welded on top and filled with solder.

[PlainBill]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Definitely the way to do it quickly. I like the laser pointer.

PlainBill

[momaka]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

I might try building something like is shown in the first video either this or next weekend. I doubt I'll succeed, but who knows. I got a heating element that I can probably push to 60-80W.
I've been removing caps from consoles and lead-free motherboards in the last few days - and it's not easy (at least not to me) even with good expensive equipment!

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Yeah the mini solder pot thing looks like a clever idea, cheapest certainly.

They sell "Cartridge Heaters" on eBay which are very cheap, and start at about 100 watts and go from there. Looks like that's what he uses actually - not sure what the hot air is for, maybe it's to assist the heater

I guess for the real powerful ones you'd want a control circuit of some kind as well.


I'm also thinking of making something myself, but a bit differently (bigger) to theirs, inspired by the idea in the attached PDF. (source: www.qrpkits.com)

I'm going to assume since he used Brass I can use it too.. read that plain copper would be useless as it will just dissolve into the solder (That is why iron tips are plated!)

Also found some unverifiable evidence online that soldering iron tips used to be brass. Anyone know anything about that?

[Evil Lurker]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Personally I think some flux, braid, and possibly chipquik would work fairly well.

[PlainBill]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Personally I think some flux, braid, and possibly chipquik would work fairly well.

I've done a credible job using a 40 watt soldering iron and a dissecting pick. On a good day with an open layout I MIGHT be able to pull one cap a minute. Adding the time to install the new caps and clean up the board the time is probably about 4 minutes a cap. I would consider this perfectly acceptable if I were recapping a board a week, or less.

Recently I met a gentleman who recaps Dell GX260s and GX270s. He expects to turn around a pallet of them (200 computers) in a week. I'm not sure what kind of equipment he uses, but I'm sure solder braid is not a significant part of the operation.

PlainBill

[Toasty]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Ungar used to make "solder pot" type tips for their irons for DIP, SIP, TO.

I have the DIP & SIP ones yet. But, the TO types look to be the best and cheapest for doing cap replacement. I have the heaters too!

Time to give it a whirl...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220772421243

Numbers/Sizes to look for: 6943 - 0.6", 6944 - 0.5", 6945 - 0.375", 6946 - 0.280"

Toast

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Ungar used to make "solder pot" type tips for their irons for DIP, SIP, TO.

I have the DIP & SIP ones yet. But, the TO types look to be the best and cheapest for doing cap replacement. I have the heaters too!

Time to give it a whirl...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220772421243

Never knew anything like that existed as a 'proper' fitting.

I wonder if it would work OK for motherboards? 18 watts seems a bit on the low side, but do tell us how it goes though!

[Toasty]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

I have the 33 watt & 45 watt heaters. Should be no problem as the surface area of the solder "bubble" will compensate. These sizes would be safer, IMO, than the large puddle the first one uses. Also, probably will be easier with some boards where you have SMDs in close proximity. Like Apple iMac PSUs. OIY!!

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

This looks even better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotat...7kU&feature=iv

I wonder how hard it would be to make something like that..

Turns out they exist as a commercial product under the name of "Solder Fountain"

They also cost quite a bit, too but I reckon you could make one for cheaper though, if you had the right tools.


Came across the name from this thread: http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=7194

Looks like brass might not be the best material for any kind of solder job either - stainless steel or cast iron seems to be a better idea, according to them...


Edit: loving the operating procedure for it! http://www.circuitmedic.com/features/517.shtml

[momaka]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

I might try building something like is shown in the first video either this or next weekend.

Well, I just finished building a solder pot today. Haven't tested it completely yet though, since the clay (read: mud) hasn't dried... Yes, I did actually use mud in this project! (along with many other common materials.) I'm not sure if it will work, but we will see. The designated PSU for this is putting about 53W of power into the heating element (1.7A at 31.5V). I'm hoping that's enough given the size of this thing.
If this doesn't work, I have another idea how I can build an attachment for my soldering iron.

[Agent24]

Re: Video - quick capacitor replacement using liquidized lead

Sounds interesting, would love to see some photos

How big is the actual pot?