computer repair

[Bill McGonigle]

On May 6, 2008, at 14:57, Ben Scott wrote:

>  I'm guessing it is easier to hand-solder a lead to a PCB
> then a surface-mount connector.  So they solder the leads to the mobo,
> and then solder a new connector to the leads.


I think you need special tools for this.  I just spent a few days  
trying to figure out why the new leads I'd soldered onto a new  
(quiet) fan weren't working on its intended mobo.  Everything looked  
right, but when I measured 7V across the leads instead of 12, I knew  
I'd somehow bridged the 12 and 5V legs.  I couldn't even see it, but  
after sopping up all the existing solder and just tinning the leads  
and attaching the leads using only the tinned solder I finally got  
12V and the fan works. (I'm on Crusade for a powerful, quiet 1U server).

'Radio Shack Tip Tinner and Cleaner' is a nice new find for me, but  
my regular electronics soldering iron seems to have been the wrong  
tool for the job.  Or maybe I'm the wrong tool for the job, but I  
used to be OK with bigger connectors.

-Bill

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