this is the first time i've soldered. i'm assuming i screwed that part up somewhere along the way.
possibly cold solder joints?
if this problem could be caused from cold solder joints, how should i fix it? can i simply reheat the solder and the joint for a better connection? or do i have to desolder the entire board and start over again?
:/ please help.
batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
Sounds like probably a short somewhere, or possibly a component installed wrong. If you can post some good clear photos of the front & back of the board, we might be able to spot the problem.
Most cold-solder joints can be fixed by re-heating. But let's make sure everything is in the right place first. Some components can be damaged by too much heating.
Most cold-solder joints can be fixed by re-heating. But let's make sure everything is in the right place first. Some components can be damaged by too much heating.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:30 pm
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
Here you go.
FRONT:
BACK:
hope somebody can spot something!
don't laugh too hard at my bad soldering though haha
FRONT:
BACK:
hope somebody can spot something!
don't laugh too hard at my bad soldering though haha
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- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
You have a lot of cold solder joints, and your wire clippers do not cut close enough to the PCB. find a good pair of flush cutters, and also resolder every joint
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Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
thank you for the help
so it is ok to just reheat all of the joints? or do i need to take off all the old solder and start from scratch?
so it is ok to just reheat all of the joints? or do i need to take off all the old solder and start from scratch?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88092
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
You should be able to reheat each joint until the solder flows. Make sure it flows well onto both the pad and the wires.
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- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:30 pm
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
Perfect. One last quick question, is it ok for the solder to be connected between two separate joints? Or can the solder like short it out?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88092
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
You definitely don't want the solder to bridge between two joints
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:30 pm
Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
i had a lot of joints connected together with solder. i went back and separated all the joints, popped the batteries in and got it to light up! now i'll know what to do as i put the USB kit together. thanks a lot!
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- Posts: 307
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Re: batteries get hot, no LEDs come on
Unless the pads you are soldering on are connected together already by a PCB track then they should never be connected!
This will create a short circuit and can cause problems like you had, or damage to components.
Lucky for you nothing was broken, and that this is a relatively low power device. On something involving high currents a short circuit can easily start a fire.
This will create a short circuit and can cause problems like you had, or damage to components.
Lucky for you nothing was broken, and that this is a relatively low power device. On something involving high currents a short circuit can easily start a fire.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.