Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Almighty1
    Badcaps Veteran
    • Apr 2014
    • 222
    • United States

    #1

    Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces?

    I was wondering if anyone here has any experience using conductive ink pens as it seems the motherboard I am recapping has some broken traces, these are fine hair thin traces as there as 11 traces within 5mm and 2-3 are broken. The problem is the traces are next to each other and I am trying to avoid bridging the traces together but what's the best method to do it as I've tried:

    1) using 3M Scotch Magic tape outlining the trace but the ink still seems to bleed to the other trace.

    2) just apply to the entire area and let it dry but after it dries, using the tip of a paring knife to draw the lines between the trace, it will basically take all the conductive ink off.

    Is there another way to apply it so it will just be a hairline instead of spreading and creating a short?
  • Agent24
    I see dead caps
    • Oct 2007
    • 4913
    • New Zealand

    #2
    Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

    I don't think ink will work in that situation.

    Post a photo of the area so we can advise, but in general, you would usually use some very fine wire, a fine iron tip and a steady hand. If you've never done it before, practice on something else first.
    "Tantalum for the brave, Solid Aluminium for the wise, Wet Electrolytic for the adventurous"
    -David VanHorn

    Comment

    • Almighty1
      Badcaps Veteran
      • Apr 2014
      • 222
      • United States

      #3
      Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

      Kind of hard to post the photo of the area because I can't tell if they are broken or not because there is one trace near the edge of the board that sees to have a spot where it goes deeper. Then the other areas, basically it seems like there is a scratch on the trace, I don't know if it actually scratched just the protective layer or did it actually cut the trace. Then there is the two edges where the alligator clips left a mark on the trace lines, not sure if it cut the trace or not. I do know that on the back side where I recapped one of the capacitors, two traces going into the ram did get cut as I remember seeing two small bits of copper on the two traces but now the two traces are not connected. The lines are small that it's hard to even get a clear shot of the area in detail. I just thought since these are the hair thin traces and the voltage is 2.5v, the ink would work as it's easier for ink to flow into the the broken portion of the traces for conductivity if it was indeed broken where if one used strands of wire, I would have to basically break each trace even if it wasn't really broken and could actually end up breaking more than I started with.
      Last edited by Almighty1; 10-22-2014, 05:48 PM.

      Comment

      • TechGeek
        Computer Geek
        • Jan 2015
        • 2254
        • USA

        #4
        Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

        I'd solder some wire to bridge the broken traces and complete the circuit
        Don't buy those $10 PSU "specials". They fail, and they have taken whole computers with them.

        My computer doubles as a space heater.

        Permanently Retired Systems:
        RIP Advantech UNO-3072LA (2008-2021) - Decommissioned and taken out of service permanently due to lack of software support for it. Not very likely to ever be recommissioned again.
        Asus Q550LF (Old main laptop, 2014-2022) - Decommissioned and stripped due to a myriad of problems, the main battery bloating being the final nail in the coffin.


        Kooky and Kool Systems
        - 1996 Power Macintosh 7200/120 + PC Compatibility Card - Under Restoration
        - 1993 Gateway 2000 80486DX/50 - Fully Operational/WIP
        - 2004 Athlon 64 Retro Gaming System - Indefinitely Parked
        - Main Workstation - Fully operational!

        sigpic

        Comment

        Related Topics

        Collapse

        • chth96
          Is it possible bridging tiny broken trace
          by chth96
          When I assembled dreamcast I mistakenly fastened long bolt and It resulted in
          cutting tiny trace.
          This tiny trace(Total width of white coating is 5.5mm) is between R337,R343 and IC101 and it is covered with white coating in the below screenshot.


          Firstly I tried to bridging tiny broken trace with my own eyes...But it is totally impossible..So a week ago, I ordered G1200 Digital Microscope and I magnified this tiny broken trace with it.

          But It seems that It is really very tiny trace So I plan to order 0.1mm coper wire from aliexpress in order to bridging...
          12-03-2022, 11:32 PM
        • SluggerB
          Why is my silver conductive trace paint not conductive?
          by SluggerB
          I'm working on repairing a keyboard, there is trace damage on the membrane. So I got my little pen of silver conductive trace repair paint and repaired the trace. Let it completely dry, test it, and its not working. So I take my multimeter out, put it on continuity, touch 2 different area of the paint, and nothing. I put it on resistance, I get OL most of the time, occasionally it might flash to something ridiculous like 17 mega ohms or something.

          Why is this stuff not working? This is what I am using https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B88B9KI
          05-03-2022, 02:00 PM
        • acedogblast
          Guide to transplant MEC1503 EC chip and EEPROM reprogamming for T14s gen 2 and X13 gen 2
          by acedogblast
          This is a guide that I am writing for helping others to replace their MEC1503 EC chip if it breaks (or to get around an inconvenient prompt to the BIOS). This forum has been extremely helpful to me so I would like to contribute to help others. I will tell you right now that this task is very difficult to do. You MUST have experience and tools to do precision micro-soldering, BGA reballing, trace repair, and general laptop repair skills.

          There are some specialty tools needed to do this task. The replacement MEC1503 chips can be acquired from Aliexpress. Do not buy the bare chips as...
          11-02-2024, 05:13 PM
        • mitsu2k
          The Real Dangers of conductive glue.
          by mitsu2k
          I know many folks on this forum warn against conductive glue and suggest removing it immediately upon site. I'm here to vouch and say these people know what they are talking about. To be more accurate, the glue isn't intended to be and doesn't actually start out conductive. It gets conductive as it is heated by components that get hot. The glue starts out to be a light tan color but as it is exposed to heat, it gets darker and darker until it is a dark brown. I have found that it becomes conductive at the point that it reaches a light brown color on darker.

          Here is an experience I...
          04-16-2023, 06:29 PM
        • Jacksoft
          PS4 SAB-001 no power after cleanup
          by Jacksoft
          Hi everyone,
          today we cleaned up from dust a PS4 Fat with SAB-001 motherboard and replaced the thermal paste with Arctic MX-4 (non conductive). Before disassembly the PS4 powered on normally but the fan was just loud because the dust.
          We made many PS4 before, without problem and by being delicate in handling them.

          Now, that's the strange part.

          This PS4, after reassembly, just do a "beep" and immediately shutdown. After testing with another PSU we inspected the motherboard and found a blown fuse (F5104). Picture attached with some characters...
          08-08-2023, 03:19 PM
        • Loading...
        • No more items.
        Working...