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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

In need of Soldering / Diode Help

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Dec 17, 2008
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In need of Soldering / Diode Help

My diode finally came today so I began soldering it to my Flexdrive today. I knew absoloutely nothing about soldering besides what I have read on this site, and well, It didn't go well. I finally got the spring attached, messily. Then as I moved to the diode itself, I just couldn't get enough heat on the tip to get those little pins seperatly soldered. I feared that I overheated the diode so I attached it to 2 doubld a batteries and I did see the blu-ray laser, but as I removed the wires from the batteries, off the pins, I saw a very, very, minor small spark. Thats enough for me for tonight. I need help before I begin this again...

How do I check if my diode is dead?

Is a propane-soldering iron torch, bad for this?
 





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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Refer to "How to solder properly" by electrofreak, this is a sticky in the General section of the forum. Practice and be sure of your skills before soldering a diode or driver.

Get a low wattage electric soldering iron and thin rosin core electronics solder.
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

So will my soldering iron torch not do the job correctly?
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Laser diodes are fussy, finicky, static and heat sensitive devices. They can be unforgiving beasts to deal with at first. Too much heat from too hot of an iron, or heat applied for too long by the correct iron can both kill a diode. You can get two soldering irons for the price of one bluray diode. The correct tool for the job is important.
The choice of solder is also important. For small things like diodes and driver boards, a thin (1mm) rosin core electronics solder is a must.

Having said all this, a person who can solder very well would be able to use a propane torch soldering iron to do this work, but the torch probably wouldn't be their first choice. Whatever you decide to use, practice with it and gain confidence before soldering expensive laser diodes.
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Is the diode in a heatsink(Aixiz module or the original factory heatsink) of some sort or is it just loose? If it's heatsinked properly, it should be okay but I recommend learning to solder before attempting your build...
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

dont attach it to 2 AA batteries...you need a driver...a spark is a bad sign...it may still work though ;)
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Yeah, Its in a Aixiz module.

I know I need a driver... I aleady have a Flexdrive..I was just checking to see if I killed the diode yet lol.

But as for the solder goes, I have been using 1mm rosin core...so I guess I just need to get a little better. The problem at the moment is that I used way to much solder, so it is kind of over-flowed onto one of the things on the flexdrive.
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Elyk456 said:
Yeah, Its in a Aixiz module.

I know I need a driver... I aleady have a Flexdrive..I was just checking to see if I killed the diode yet lol.

But as for the solder goes, I have been using 1mm rosin core...so I guess I just need to get a little better. The problem at the moment is that I used way to much solder, so it is kind of over-flowed onto one of the things on the flexdrive.

rosin paste flux makes solder 100 time easier, spend $2 on a can of it and you'll be amazed on how much easier soldering becomes, and watch the vide on how to solder properly, it helped me alot.
 
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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Mohrenberg said:
[quote author=Elyk456 link=1231207027/0#6 date=1231246471]Yeah, Its in a Aixiz module.

I know I need a driver... I aleady have a Flexdrive..I was just checking to see if I killed the diode yet lol.

But as for the solder goes, I have been using 1mm rosin core...so I guess I just need to get a little better. The problem at the moment is that I used way to much solder, so it is kind of over-flowed onto one of the things on the flexdrive.

rosin paste flux makes solder 100 time easier, spend $2 on a can of it and you'll be amazed on how much easier soldering becomes, and watch the vide on how to solder properly, it helped me alot.[/quote]


Yeah Iv watched over that video about 4 times now. I just don't have the right tools for the job at this point. This torch solder gun is completely unreliable and barely works. I have tried this 30 watt eletric iron, but the tip simply just is too big / does not get hot enough. I have TOO much solder on my positive and negative pads and I need to wait before removing it until I get the right kind of iron. *Sigh* I have ALL of the parts for this thing, I didn't think this is what would be stopping me.... :mad:

Also, I am scared of overheating this Flex-Drive. I would be insanely P.O. if I ruined it because of my lack in soldering skills. Only time will tell... :-/
 

danq

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Re:  In need of Soldering / Diode Help

Kyle, a really good way to practice soldering - and test your soldering equipment - is to get some old electronic item, like an answering machine or older CD drive or whatever; and take it apart piece by piece. Some of that will be mechanical, like screws; and some will be soldering.

Then practice putting some of the electronic parts back (they don't need to go in the right places)(as long as you don't expect it to work again ;-)

Once you can un-solder and re-solder parts without damaging the parts or old pc board, you'll probably be ready to make your own driver.

You'll find more parts (and thus more practice) in a really old piece of equipment - because modern ones, like the LG 22x DVD writer, have very few discrete components (the latter does though have a very nice red LD!)

Aside from practice, you'll also get lots of neat stuff to play with like motors, speakers, etc.

:)
DanQ
 




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