What is the correct wattage soldering iron to buy for fixing broken solder joints on motherboards and printed circuit boards? Can somebody give me a recommendation of a soldering iron to buy for this?
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What is the correct wattage soldering iron to buy for fixing broken solder joints on motherboards and printed circuit boards? Can somebody give me a recommendation of a soldering iron to buy for this?
Be aware that motherboards are multi-layered and therefore not normally repairable with a conventional soldering iron.
I use a 12 watt with a selection of very fine tips for working on PCB's. But if you're going to be working on computer PCB's a lot it would be well worth investing in a temperature controlled soldering iron.
I am constantly fixing things like police scanners and kid's toys that have little circuit boards in them. My big Weller Soldering Iron gets too hot so I am thinking about getting a 30w pencil type soldering iron for small repairs. I am looking at this one >http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=64%2D2067
Here's mine, a 12W Antex (I've got a 25W as well for bigger jobs):
http://www.maplin.co.uk/media/largeimages/4048i0.jpg
30 Watts is a lot of power for PCB's IMHO, I think you should go for a lower output.
I just bought this one from Radio Shack. I can switch between 15 watts and 30 watts with a flip of the switch. Check it out here >http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=64%2D2055
They closed all the Tandy (Radio Shack) stores down over here, I used to have one literally at the end of my road :(
That looks ideal. Get a good selection of different tips as well if you can.
I'm not sure if this'll work, but I've heard that a rear-window defogger-repair kit can be used to redraw cut traces on the mobo. Makes sense, since it's a conductor, but I have no idea whether it'll last or break or heat up or cause crashes or whatever. You might want to check that option out, though.