eek!! been asked by friend to solder on a mini USB surface mount connector.

How?

The pins are a about 0.2 mm apart i.e. bloody tiny so no way I can do that with my Antex soldering iron plus the 4 mounting pad need to be done the same time and I only have 1 iron.

Anyone done something like this at home?

I am thinking along the lines of filing down some solder to make fine powder, mix it up with flux then coat the pads.

Place the connector then go round the pads with a mini blowtorch, hopefully surface tension will pull the molten solder into place.

Any one done this or got better ideas on how to do this?

I think they use ultrasound to 'melt' the solder in the factory

good luck

It can be done with a fine tip and a steady hand.

You don't need to solder all 4 at once.

I had to repair my gf's sat nav after she left the charging lead (fag lighter to mini USB) in it and rammed it into the glovebox.

Tore it off the board but luckily the solder failed rather than ripping the tracks off.

Get everything very clean and take your time.

Ultra fine solder is also useful!

The paste method you describe could work and is kinda similar to how it may have be assembled in the first place but I'd try doing it with an iron first.

Have you got anything else with surface mount components thats completely dead you could have a practice on first?

Have a search on google - quite a few results including some video tutorials...

Cheers


Vince

here's a how to vid, look how tiny those bits are!

vid

remove the orginal tip and clamp in a short pin. if its too long it takes ages for heat to conduct and melt solder.

worked for me

[Edited on 9/2/09 by dinosaurjuice]

Using a decent 5 core solder just run the solder and hot tip over the contacts. the solder will only stick to the pins. If you bridge the contacts more solder (flux) will flick it off.

Sounds comlicated? Dead easy with the right stuff.

I built my megajolt by putting some solder on the pad melting it and sliding the component on the soldering the other pins. These were the "large" surface mount components though.

Excellent video. Thanks.

A decent Soldering Iron (I have a Weller temp controlled), the right sized tip, and in my case, a 6" magnifying glass on a angle poise stand with a circular flourescent tube light, and then some reading glasses, and a Loupe under it all when checking the finished job.

I hate Surface Mount components. Especially as I am getting old, and ned glasses etc.

Still... It was a good video... useful for the novice solderers on here.