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Is taping wires instead of sodering, safe?
Brax:
--- Quote from: Peale on April 14, 2003, 10:22:42 pm ---
--- Quote from: OSCAR on April 14, 2003, 09:52:47 pm ---Not a direct answer to your question, but another method commonly used on gamepad hacks is to drill through the pcb at the contact points with a really small drill bit. Then you insert the wire from the parts side and solder it to the contact. This makes a better joint than just surface soldering wires to the contacts.
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They're called wire bits, and they're really tiny. They didn't have anything at the hardware store smaller than 1/16, until I asked specifically. Then they broke out the teeny tiny stuff.
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Go to a large hobby store that sells plastic models. You can buy a pin vise with tiny bits. They're perfect for our application.
http://www.mikeshobbytools.com/inventory/details.asp?ItemID=264
Elkor:
The first rule of soldering is to have a good mechanical connection.
solder provides the electrical connection but the 2 pieces should be firmly attached before it is applied.
(plus, it makes the soldering job a lot easier)
_Iz-:
He may also be a bit timid with the soldering iron and is getting a cold solder instead of a good joint. It's hard to walk the fine line between getting a good solder joint and overheating the traces to the point where they lift from the pcb. Make sure the traces you are soldering to are clean and scraped free of the coating before soldering.