Scotty_B
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Registered: 11th Jun 03
Location: East Kilbride
User status: Offline
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I'm going to be changing the LEDs in my Focus from green to white using the following which I'm told are correct.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120612959724&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
However I'm a soldering novice and need a list of what to buy.
I have an old set of dials with the same LEDs to practice on and gain confidence before jumping in, so don't worry.
This is the iron I'm looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230465383768&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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They are tiny leds, it's certainly possible but won't be easy if you haven't done it before.
Antex irons are good, maplin sell them, might get one cheap from there and you can pick it up.
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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the little sucky upper thing is useful for removing solder if you get it wrong
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote: Originally posted by 3CorsaMeal
the little sucky upper thing is useful for removing solder if you get it wrong
Very!
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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I've never been able to get the sucker thing working properly, de solder braid is handy.
They leds would be well fried by the time you had done that though.
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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yeah be careful with the heat get an iron with a thin end as possible, and one with high heat output you dont want to be pressing it for ages against the metal to get it to melt.
they are smd's so are small, thin soler and thin ended iron, not too difficult
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote: Originally posted by John
I've never been able to get the sucker thing working properly, de solder braid is handy.
They leds would be well fried by the time you had done that though.
I use one at work most days and it's quite handy once you get the hang of it.
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Scotty_B
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Registered: 11th Jun 03
Location: East Kilbride
User status: Offline
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So that iron I linked to with a 1mm tip do the job?
How do I go about removing the existing SMDs, just heat, lift with tweezers and clean of the excess left over?
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by Nath
quote: Originally posted by John
I've never been able to get the sucker thing working properly, de solder braid is handy.
They leds would be well fried by the time you had done that though.
I use one at work most days and it's quite handy once you get the hang of it.
I wish I could, would have helped me out a lot before I got a bit better at the soldering.
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oceansoul
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Registered: 19th Jun 06
Location: Sunbury, Surrey
User status: Offline
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I used to work in an electronics factory for 3 years, and i had only just managed to perfect surface mount soldering.
It is not the easiest thing to do, and you need a pretty steady hand.
I agree with John that desolder braid is better than the sucky things. But that might be just because what i used in the factory.
Try not to get the LED's too hot and make sure to tin the track and the ends before. Dont just go sticking loadsa solder into the joint, you'll only go and make a right mess of it
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Chris
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Sep 99
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get one with a stand. that type like to spin round for no reason when u place it down on table n burn you.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35016
Nice iron, possible to change temp.
To remove the solder heat up then bang on the part on the table solder will drop off
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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I'd go for the antex over the cheap adjustable one personally.
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Scotty_B
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Registered: 11th Jun 03
Location: East Kilbride
User status: Offline
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What's the best solder to use on a circuit board?
and would a 1mm tip be small enough for such LEDs?
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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I use the silver solder from Maplin, comes in a little tube and seems pretty nice to work with
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John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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Buy, http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=4063
and
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=220779
and
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43001
I have that iron and they tips and that's exactly what I'd use if I was doing the job, I've got some of the leds sitting in the house for the same thing.
I use an old roll of thin plumbers solder
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