| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Retto
New Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 12 2007 : 9:47:03 PM
|
I have a laptop that needs repairing. It was dead, and on further investigation, I found that the wires had pulled out of the connector for the power supply. When I touch the bare wires to the metal leads on the outside of this connector, I can get the system to boot. My question is this, will I be able to fix this problem with a soldering iron? I have never even picked one up before, so I am a bit nervous as to how I can make this repair. It appears as if it should be easy, but my lack of experience has me a little worried about doing this. Any suggestions that can be offered would be great!
|
|
|
max807
Apprentece
6 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2007 : 08:25:35 AM
|
Hi. You've got to make sure you don't start melting plastic thereby poisoning yourself and ruining your equipment. So, skin enough wire and make sure that there is plenty of metal contact area.
Do it in a well-ventilated place.
Keep a soggy sponge handy. This is for wiping off the solder from the iron in case you need to (i,e, in case you mess it up). When soldering, you have to hold the 2 pieces of metal together for a short while - long enough for it to bond. It's only a few moments (a couple of seconds). If you heat it for too long you will start to melt the plastic.
When you apply your soldering iron, remember it won't work if you're just using the soldering iron to melt some solder to turn it into a sort of 'glue' to stick 2 cold things together. The solder is not glue and it won't bond to a surface that isn't hot. So you're using the iron to heat up the surfaces that have to stick together, for a few seconds. The solder melts while you're doing this and goes where it needs to go.
For sticking together the ends of two wires, I usually just twine them together with a bit of solder, and then just apply heat.
For the job you're describing, I wouldn't use a very hot iron. I would use a 15 to 25 watt soldering iron. The smoke coming off the soldering iron is not the heavy metal of the solder, but the resinol stuff that makes it turn into liquid and stick to things. If you wait for so long that there is little smoke coming from the solder, then you'll have to wipe it down with a soggy sponge and use fresh solder.
That's all you need. Good luck. |
 |
|
|
Retto
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2007 : 6:39:01 PM
|
| Ok, thanks for the info. I'll give it a try! |
|
|
|
SamRadford
Apprentece
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
|
|
cyclopsitis
Nobel Prize Winner
Canada
732 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2007 : 11:43:53 PM
|
I find that with all the power supply repairs I do re-soldering the wires is usually a temporary fix. you need to also make sure you have enough strain felife and get yourself some heat shrink tubing too. I hate it when people use stupid electrical tape it looks like hell not to mention if it gets hot it starts to come and then its always sticky! Your other option if the laptop is worth it is to just replace the power supply. most stores have a PSU avalible with adapters for most laptop brands. Tht would be a little more perminant
K |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Newbie Help
