Soldering Tips needed

[Slappy00]

I'm about to add a magic 3.1 ps2 mod onto my version 5 ps2. I wonder (since the ps2 is a computer after all) if any of you guys have experience soldering wires on those tiny (and i do mean tiney)soldering points on the ps2?

for an idea of what I am abou to undertake goto

link for the page with wiring diagram

and goto the "manuals and downloads" section and get the "magic 3 diagram for v5/6"


any help would be appreciated, I really dont wat to fry my ps2 board...

I got a 25w soldering iron from Radio Shack and some .022mm rosin solder (the wires should come with the mod-chip)

-Slappy

 

[Nocturnal]

I'd use a mangnifying glass and some dentist's tweezers.

 

[UncleWai]

If you haven't done any intense soldering before, I say don't bother.
I can pretty much guarantee you will fvck up point MNOP.

The tip of the 25wat ratshack soldering iron is too large for the application.

 

[Zepper]

Yeah, you will need the micro soldering pen at RS. 15W with long conical tip and grounded power cord. And even then it won't be easy.
.bh.
:moon:

 

[orion7144]

I just did a friends and it was a PITA and I am Micro/Miniature soldering certified from the Navy. Granted I was not using the proper tools for the job but they are quite expensive. If you don't have any experience don't do it. This friends was his second PS2 since he fubar'd his first one.

 

[mrgoblin]

PRactice on some old stuff to get the hang of it. It cant be that hard since everyone seems to be modding their ps2's .If I were you id bring the part to someone and pay em some money to do it for you. At least a pro will have less of a chance to fubar it

 

[xer0x]

or get the magic clip kit (think thats what its called)
you solder the mod chip to a holder

it will be much easier, you wont hafta use hella small solder iron

 

[Mark R]

Ouch. That looks hard.

You need a fair bit of experience before attempting this, you also need the proper tools - i.e. a soldering iron with an unplated bit for SMD use, preferably one which is temperature controlled. Trying to use a soldering iron with a conventional bit (especially the ones that come with cheap irons) is a waste of time - they're far too big. I've found that even 'micro' bits are often too large for such small scale work.

It is doable, but it's not a task for someone new to soldering.

 

[dunkster]

Use the small-tip 15W iron, emphasis on small-tip. I have a small-tip iron that's switchable between 35W/15W, which I think is from RS.

The biggest potential problems:
Too much heat.
Too much time with heat applied to components.
Too much solder.
Too much force.

A bit of paste solder flux will help to properly 'tin' the tip of the soldering tool. Heat the tip. Lightly sand any corrosion from the tip, dip the tip into the flux, 'tin' the tip by applying solder to the hot tip - don't proceed if the tip isn't covered with bright solder - repeat sanding/tinning of the tip if necessary.

Brace your free hand or use appropriate tool to hold the wire steadily in contact with the junction to be soldered. Just enough pressure to provide steady contact.

USE ONLY THE SOLDER THAT ADHERES TO THE TIP. That's all you need. Don't feed additional solder to the junction.

Touch the tip to the junction for about a second - no more, particularly when soldering to chip contacts, diodes or other heat-sensitive devices. Hold steady while the junction cools.

Lightly re-tin the iron for each junction.

Hope this helps!