[OT] Circuit Board Repair

[sciroccos at earthlink.net (Jim Ruffi)]

I've done this countless times.  It will last longer than the car.

Just scrape the green stuff off the copper trace to expose some "fresh"
copper.
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/fix_1.JPG

Use a 25-35 watt pencil iron ($10 radio shack one will do fine)
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/iron.JPG

and some small diameter rosin core solder:
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/solder.JPG

Strip some insulation (about an inch and a half) from the end of the piece
of speaker wire and twist 2 or 3 strands together, creating one
small-diameter stranded wire.
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/fix_2.JPG


Lay the end on the  one side of the break.  Apply heat from the iron to the
trace and wire at the same time....after about 3 seconds, apply a little
solder, while still holding the iron.
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/fix_3.JPG

Remove the iron immediately after the solder begins to flow.  It's very
important that you don't allow the wire to move as it cools for a few
seconds.

Lay the other end on the other side of the break.  Solder it down.
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/fix_4.JPG

Cut off the excess.
http://www.jimruffi.com/pics/fix_5.JPG

Most common mistakes are: too much heat and too much solder.  Less is more.

HTH
Jim


>-----Original Message-----
>From: scirocco-l-bounces+sciroccos=earthlink.net@scirocco.org
>[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces+sciroccos=earthlink.net@scirocco.org]On
>Behalf Of Brad Sterling
>Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 9:03 PM
>To: 'Scirocco List'
>Cc: 'Chris Bennett'
>Subject: RE: [OT] Circuit Board Repair
>
>
> Thanks for the help, guys.  Just so we're all clear what we're talking
>about, I've posted a picture:
>
><http://www.bctonline.com/~sterling/CVR/Burnt_Board.jpg>
>
>The red circle shows the burn/break.  To put the simplicity of
>this board in
>perspective, it is probably around 3" x 5".  Still think the jumper wire is
>the way to go, even for a ham-fisted, self taught solderer like myself?
>
>-Brad
>'86 Scirocco 16v
>
>