several beginner questions

[alegro]

I'm new to the forum and to the world of component-level repair. Any info and/or links are much appreciated.

1. Are there online videos demonstrating de-soldering, soldering, and (especially) cleaning out the holes with a pick?

2. In an LCD, if its not the capacitors, how do you figure out what the problem is?

3. Is it possible for a beginner to recap a power supply?

[goodpsusearch]

Re: several beginner questions

I was in your place 5 months ago!

1) Try youtube, I found many videos with soldering tutorials, that helped me do it right.

3) Yes, if I was able to do it, then everyone can do it :P

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

goodpsusearch, thanks for the encouragement. In your experience is it usually the capacitors with psu's or does it often involve more complicated troubleshooting?

[goodpsusearch]

Re: several beginner questions

I have a friend who is in the service department of my university. All bad stuff and old ones go to him, and then are stored or sent to recycle. Among others, there are more than 50 psus in big carbon boxes.

So, I can tell you that a big number of them just needs a recap and then will be up and running, like this and this

On the other hand, the repair of some others is a bit more complex, like that one. I let that down due to lack of technical knowledge.

My first power supply recap was a success and is found here

[etnietering]

Re: several beginner questions

Welcome to the forum!

1) In addition to videos, there are plenty of pictoral guides. I don't know if they'd be more or less helpful than a video, but it's something else to consider.

2) There are zillions of things that can go wrong with LCD panels. There's a whole section here on Computer Monitors. Browsing through there might give you an idea of some of the other things that can go wrong. There are a couple gurus that hang out there that should be able to help you with your problem.

3) Oh yes. Once you get the hang of soldering and desoldering, it's not too difficult. You'll get the hang of it real quick.

Good luck with all your recapping adventures! Everybody here is happy to help you if you run into problems.

[cb92]

Re: several beginner questions

I'm a noobie too, and I'll tell ya, it's a struggle. I open up this psu in a Compaq that doesn't want to run anymore, and I see a forest of caps! Lord, I start pulling and checking, FINALLY find the bad one. It would be nice to have a way to check them on the board. Anyway, I replace the bad boy, and fire the computer up. About ten seconds later, bang, a cap blows, I put in in backwards after checking it. Luckily nothing else blows. I replace the blown one, and try again, and all is well, the computer boots.
The bottom line is, get ready for some slow patient work that WILL fix your psu. I have fixed a couple of things, and am quite proud of myself. What was junk is now working. YAY.

[Radio Fox]

Re: several beginner questions

...1) Try youtube, I found many videos with soldering tutorials, that helped me do it right...

Unfortunately, there are also many on youtube that are absolutely atrocious! Always take note of any critical comments underneath the video to see what others have to say.

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

Thanks for the info!

4. Are the pictoral guides on this site or elsewhere?

5. I have a 20/40 watt Radioshack soldering iron. I practiced on a completely trashed motherboard. At 40watts it 'melted' the pcb, and 20watts wasn't quite hot enough for some joints. So I'm wondering if 30 watts is the sweet spot. I noticed there is a 30watt iron for sale on this site. Has anyone used one of those? Are they beginner-friendly?

6. Supposing I'm not too good at the motherboard work (especially with my limited equipment) -would it be possible to find one or more people here that would recap some mobos for me in exchange for other recappable mobos and/or other computer parts? I've got more parts than free time. Will I get ripped off mailing someone some boards? From what I've seen this seems like a great community, but people can be wonderful in cyberspace and thieving dueche-bags in the flesh.

[Krankshaft]

Re: several beginner questions

If you want some real videos with a guy who knows how to solder check out these tutorials.

http://curiousinventor.com/guides

This is the site I went to to see how Chipquik works.

That Ratshack special iron that you refer to that I once had wouldn't be good for mobo work.

I wouldn't recommend doing mobo work without a regulated soldering station.

On mobos a good iron is the difference between removing a cap and removing a cap with the trace still attached.

But for working on single layer PCBs like PSUs for example that iron will do fine.

[Radio Fox]

Re: several beginner questions

If you want some real videos with a guy who knows how to solder check out these tutorials.

http://curiousinventor.com/guides

This is the site I went to to see how Chipquik works...

Haven't seen that site before. Looks like there's some interesting tutorials. Wil have a proper read later.

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

Krankshaft, thanks for the tutorial site link.

Will a non-regulated iron work for LCD circuit boards? Is the 30watt iron from this site better than the Radioshack one?

[cb92]

Re: several beginner questions

I use my iron at the 30 watt setting, 20 is too low. I have a huge iron for really big stuff, lke heatsinks. I find my pistol shaped iron to be hateful. Certainly no good for getting into tight places, but it does have power. I just bought a cheap battery iron at Home Depot for less than twenty bucks. The really good ones are expensive. Haven't tried the battery iron, but like the idea. I don't like to have to wait for the iron to heat up, and then just sit there sucking electricity while I'm doing other stuff.
Solder suckers are fun, work good once you get used to them. Heat the joint, jam the sucker in real tight and fire away. Don't worry about the tip, they are cheap in the long run. But you gotta have the wick stuff too.
I googled the 'cold heat' solder irons, they got slammed in reviews. An iron has to be tinned to work right, and I don't think they tin.

[sam67]

Re: several beginner questions

Hi there , welcome ..I am a newbie also lol.

I have only really got into electronics when i joined this forum and have already recapped a few monitors,sorted out my speakers with a blown power amp.

Now i don't know anything like these guys on here but it is all learn-able .I have done alot of reading and asking questions and i am slowly progressing.Never done electronics until i came on here and i am really enjoying the learning experience.

I did my reading up on soldering and bought some good e books on testing components which has helped me alot .Also been and bought some test equipment like ESR meter analogue multimeter as well as a digital one and new solder station and just got hold of the atlas DCA meter . Just waiting to get some more cash for a ring tester.

This electronics stuff soon gets you hooked lol.

Best

Sam

[larrymoencurly]

Re: several beginner questions

5. I have a 20/40 watt Radioshack soldering iron. I practiced on a completely trashed motherboard. At 40watts it 'melted' the pcb, and 20watts wasn't quite hot enough for some joints. So I'm wondering if 30 watts is the sweet spot.

For single sided circuit boards, 20W is enough for small leads that go into small copper pads, 30W is good for almost everything except big wires, like the #18 or #16 ones for PSU cables that go into large copper areas, which are better handled with 40-45W. For plated-through holes in double-sided boards, 30-40W is generally enough, but big wires can need 50W. The iron tip matters -- thin and cone shaped is worse than fat and flat, and a clean tip can transfer heat a lot better than a dirty one (wipe frequently with damp paper towel or with curly brass, stainless, or copper hair, not a damp sponge).

[kc8adu]

Re: several beginner questions

Solder suckers are fun, work good once you get used to them.
I googled the 'cold heat' solder irons, they got slammed in reviews. An iron has to be tinned to work right, and I don't think they tin.

the solder suckers are to be avoided due to their tendancy to drop solder crumbs which may short qfp and bga parts.and the coldheat irons are trash.esp for work on boards having sensitive parts.contact things just right and send 6v into a fragile chip.they are a resistance heater which connects via the lead or pad you are soldering.full supply voltage across the gap in the tip.

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

Thanks for the info everyone.

Any comments on post #8, question 6? Do people here do that sort of thing? Is it worth it after the shipping costs? The boards I have are mostly Pentium 4, and Athlon XP.

[stj]

Re: several beginner questions

8-6 is hard to answer unless you put your location in your profile.
(unless you want the postage to cost more than a new board!)

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

profile updated. Thanks for pointing that out stj.

[alegro]

Re: several beginner questions

If I decide to stick with repairing LCDs, power supplies etc (due to my limited equipment and limited skill) -would it be possible to find one or more people here that would recap some mobos for me in exchange for other recappable mobos and/or other computer parts?

I've got more parts than free time. Will I get ripped off mailing boards to someone? Is this commonly done among the badcaps forum members?

Also will it be worth it after the shipping costs? I'm in the continental US. The boards are mostly P4 and Athlon XP. They've all been properly stored, -either in a pc or in a static safe bag inside a box. I'd say 95-100% of them probably just need new caps. They have buldging and/or crooked caps, (as opposed to oozing caps, and burnt boards, etc.)

[kc8adu]

Re: several beginner questions

any of those p4 or athlon boards have isa?
i might work something out with you if they do.