so i got a cap... - Page 2

09-09-2008, 02:56 PM

Dont get a gun, get an Iron

I have both and the iron is easier and less of a pain to solder with especially on things that small. anyways good luck

deathwish666 · 09-09-2008, 03:11 PM

yea...luck is what im going to base this off of haha...worst case scenario is that i dont have leds on it and its just the blue display

Beholder88 · 09-09-2008, 04:17 PM

It's actually a soldering "pen", you can get them at radio shack or even wal-mart. You'll have to let the thing warm up, then you should be able to figure it out, it's actually pretty easy. I would suggest wearing goggles or glasses or something if this is your first time. Sometimes it tends to splatter a bit, and it's hot!

cherrington17 · 09-09-2008, 04:42 PM

yep. just hold the soldering iron to the bottom of the board, and wiggle each led free. KEEP AN EYE ON WHICH SIDE THE FLAT SIDE IS! every led has a flat side at the base of the acrylic. that denotes polarity. make sure the new ones go back in the same way the old ones came out.

and as for desoldering. it may help, but if you remove all the solder, your gonna need to put some back in for the electrical connection. its completely up to you.

and yes, be careful! (if your accident prone, goggles are recommended) soldering guns get anywhere from 3-700 degrees. you disrespect it, and it'll disrespect you 10 fold.

Ryan from Ohio · 09-09-2008, 04:44 PM

Be quick also. heat kills LED's

cherrington17 · 09-09-2008, 04:55 PM

^i haven't had an issue. i've heated/reheated a few bad joints a several dozen times... as well as held the iron on one lead for a mintue or two while i was talking to someone, and never had one not work, because of that. hmmm... odd.

I HEARD of that though.

also, if possible. put the leads through the spots, before you cut them to size. just makes like easier.

deathwish666 · 09-09-2008, 11:21 PM

well i accolmplished the first step...getting them off...but now i need to find tiny ass greens to fill the spot haha

and if someone could elaborate on how to tell the - from the + that would be great...and in the circuit board some are soldered in a square shape and some are a circle shape...does that mean anything?

btw thanks everyone for your help...i really dont think i couldve done a good job without you

Beholder88 · 09-10-2008, 07:21 AM

The solder pads on the bottom of the board that are square and circle I think denote polarity. Did you make sure to note which direction the flat side of the LED was facing? If you put the LED in backwards, it will not light up. LED is a Light Emitting Diode, emphasis on the DIODE, meaning that electricity will only flow through it in one direction. As long as you get the new ones back in the right way, you don't really need to be worried about the square and circle solder pads.

deathwish666 · 09-10-2008, 04:07 PM

i still dont know what you guys mean by the flat side of the led...so i took a picture haha

cherrington17 · 09-10-2008, 04:26 PM

around the base of the led (where it has the small lip sticking out) there is one flat side to it.

*you can see on the left side of this led*

the base always has a flat side, on that lip, so you can tell polarity, incase the leads were cut (one lead is always longer, but in you case, they were precut)

deathwish666 · 09-11-2008, 01:08 AM

that was a really big help thanks cherry

so i thought i knew which side was which and i got really bored and decided to see if anything would come up on a multimeter set to measure ohms....i put prongs to what i thought was the right sides and the thing lit up...i was hoping that wouldve happened since it has to make a full circuit to measure ohms but i wasnt sure

anyways...thanks guys for all the help again...ill def take pictures after i get my leds in