Help I think I fried it :( think it's still worth the effort?

[djmulder]

Hi there,

I tried to do the xecuter3 mod..but...well normaly I'm good with a solder but I just messed it up (my soldering iron is bad and old tho so that could be the prob)...now I want to go buy a Conductive pen tomorrow but I'm not sure if it's worth the effort..

I made some screenies showing my errors..hope you can help out...thanks in advance (btw I already did some pre work: cleaning up and stuff it was alot worse)


Image: The errors in my ways
Image: The entire pic without highlights

Thx in advance,

DJ_M

 

[kowrip]

Hi there,

I tried to do the xecuter3 mod..but...well normaly I'm good with a solder but I just messed it up (my soldering iron is bad and old tho so that could be the prob)...now I want to go buy a Conductive pen tomorrow but I'm not sure if it's worth the effort..

I made some screenies showing my errors..hope you can help out...thanks in advance (btw I already did some pre work: cleaning up and stuff it was alot worse)


Image: The errors in my ways
Image: The entire pic without highlights

Thx in advance,

DJ_M

First of all, why do you think you fried it ? Did you smell smoke or something like that ? If you just messed up the traces but have no evidence that it's "fried", I'd say it's definitely worth trying the conductive pen. On my mod attempt, my friend and I really messed up the area around the D0 point. After getting everything else connected, the thing worked fine. We were both surprised because the D0 area looked pretty damn awful. It seems to me that they can take quite a bit of abuse. Just make sure there's no solder spashes/shorts anywhere and see if you can fix it.

 

[djmulder]

hi..and thx for the reply...well I didn't smell anything..but ...it keeps on frag-in...I tried rerouting the destroyed traces...but still frags....I'll try the pen..but I would feel better that someone check out the screenies and comfort me cause my gf still disbelieves me

thx again

DJ_M

 

[kowrip]

hi..and thx for the reply...well I didn't smell anything..but ...it keeps on frag-in...I tried rerouting the destroyed traces...but still frags....I'll try the pen..but I would feel better that someone check out the screenies and comfort me cause my gf still disbelieves me

thx again

DJ_M

Well, my D0 area was at LEAST as messed up as those 2 bad areas I see on your motherboard. What's up with that pin header ? Were those holes filled with solder ? What version Xbox is it and what type of mod chip install did you do ..... pin header or wire ?

 

[G16aByT3]

By the looks of the board (Nice pic) its a 1.6. I am surprised that you did no use the 1.6 rebuild kit that should have been supplied with your X3. I would first suggest that you get a nice magnifying glass at least 8X and clean the mess up with rubbing alchool. I would prefer not to use a pen as they are messy and you have to clean up the board in order for the damn pen to stick.

I would trace the lines going to a pad point and make sure that continuity from the previous pad point to the new pad has continuity and if it does then I would not worry about fixing it. if there is no continuity I would take some 30awg wire and create a trace from the new pad to the old pad point or somewhere the connection should go.

Good Luck and get a better iron too.

G16aByT3

 

[djmulder]

Hi,

Thanks again for the reply....well I did use the rebuild kit...but after I messed it up..I desoldered everything to get a good look of what the mess was...the filled holes are indeed the result of that.... I already cleaned it up with rubbing alcohol..but haven't used a magnifying glass yet (simply 'cause I don't have one yet)

I retraced most lines and tried to recircuit em but with no luck....anyone out there got a good pic of what can be recircuited to what in this situation?

Thanks again,


DJ_M
ps nice pic..well lol..I just put my board on my flatbet scanner giggle

 

[ozzyo99]

No offense mate, but i have absolutely no idea how people manage to do such a bad job of soldering - with the amount of information online, there really is no excuse for undertaking such an intricate job without being fully prepared - workman always blames his tools.

First thing to do is to check the traces at either side of the scorch marks, if the meter is reading equally either side then you don't need to repair the circuit. Conductive pens can be a pain in the arse for such a small trace, and can often make more of a mess, the best advice if its screwed would be to solder wire to a point either side of the trace and recheck with a meter (however given your soldering i would perhaps ask a steady handed friend, or take it to an electrician).

I take it after this is repaired you are wishing to use the LPC port again to re-fit your mod? If so get prepared before hand this time, spend the best £2.50 of your life and goto RadioShack and buy a Solder Sucker.

Ridding 1.0/Soldered LPC Port:
1. Hole your board vertically on its side (i suggest (gentle)vice/clips).
2. Press your iron (fie tipped) again each of the holes in turn, have your solder sucker on the opposite side of the board.
3. Ready the solder sucker and release to pull the solder out of the hole.
4. Enjoy a lovely fresh hole (yeah that too ).

The alternative of this is (before i actually got a sucker) to use the same principle, but instead use a safety pin, you need to push the iron from oneside melting the solder, and the safety pin through the hole to try and meet the iron, push it all the way through and keep it moving so the solder doesnt set the pin. Pretty easy after you get the nack, but £2.50 will save you the trouble.

Oh and next time, be a little more careful

 

[ozzyo99]

Almost forgot, the best thing to do would be to very very gently scrape the lacquer off the board until you unearth some fresh trace, then solder some wire to that point (always put electrical tape over your joint to preserve it) and join it on to another point which you have prepared on the otherside.

Oh and why your at RadioShack buying your solder sucker, get yourself a standalone (dont need to hold it) magnifying glass and clip combo £5.00. Be the best money you've spent

 

[djmulder]

heh...I have a sucker already but the magnifying glass is a good idea still...but..hmm just returned from the radio shack and it's closed :S gonna check "den haag" tonight ...after work and yes I intend to reuse the port but I already cleaned it right after the scan of the plate

I just hope it survives

thx again,

DJ_M

 

[ozzyo99]

Closed, strange

Good to see you have the making of the correct equipment, the right tools make any job 10x easier. Out of interest what kind of soldering iron are you using, personally i would suggest a 15watt fine tipped iron for a starter, as 30w can result in too much power (a new driver in a supercar) and lead to burnt traces

Keep us informed of your progress, ill try and give advice where possible - but there are many people more knowledgable than myself. End of the day if its dead you could just get yourself a new motherboard.

 

[kowrip]

No offense mate, but i have absolutely no idea how people manage to do such a bad job of soldering - with the amount of information online, there really is no excuse for undertaking such an intricate job without being fully prepared - workman always blames his tools.

Yeah, I agree. The pin header is simple to solder with a 15W pencil tip iron and some very thin solder. Secure the pinheader to board with tape from the top. Then flip the board over. From the bottom, touch the tip of the iron to the top of a pin (use gentle pressure so the pins don't push back through the pin header). While doing that, press the solder to the pin from the side allowing it to melt and fill the hole with solder. Every solder point should come out pretty damn close to perfect. I actually enjoy doing the pin header part !

 

[djmulder]

Hi thanks again,

Well I have a thicktipped iron wich is 15W (a Weller)...thinking of buying a new thin tipped today..dunno yet...I like to have good equipment..but atm I spent so much already lol

I do know how to solder (I'm not the best in it off course) ..it just went wrong :S it happens I guess...just hoping it's going to be saved I'll keep you posted

I just read the website it was closed 'cause there was a "death in the family" so I guess...they have a good reason

DJ_M

 

[djmulder]

ah update (home now) it's a 12W weller not a 15W going to den haag now to get that magnifying glass..tho I'm waiting for my tomtom to install

DJ_M

 

[ozzyo99]

Well £15 for a decent iron would (perhaps) save all this hassle for you.

Personally i use a butane Bernzomatic kit (multiple tips) and obviously cordless, cost something like £18 from B&Q - i recommend it.

 

[Martin C]

How the hell did you do that much damage with a 12W iron?

You realise that you're supposed to plug it in and not try and bash the pieces together?

Seriously, take it to someone who repairs boards. You can't solder - stop kidding yourself and save yourself the grief of losing the board completely.

Martin

 

[dragon123]

I really want to see pictures of the damaged area...

The X3 install was a piece of cake after doing Ps2 chips install. People should practice on old boards (any kind really) before soldering their Xbox boards. Or maybe they should ask someone esle to do it like Martin suggest.

 

[djmulder]

dragon...in my first post I showed 2 pics...1 showing what I messed up....1 showing what it looks like without the markers

Martin...look..I know how to solder! ...I just messed this one up...dunno what happend.....

DJ_M

 

[dragon123]

My bad, I didn't click on the links.
I can now say... OUCH.
But it would seem that you can fix the traces and buy a very thin soldering iron tip. (I don't know how big yours was).
I am using one that is as big as a neddle, it takes time to warm up the solder but it is very precise.

Three things you can do:
- Fix the traces by replacing them with wires.
- Send it to someone to get it repaired.
- Get a new one from llama.

If you are in my area, I don't mind trying to save that one... I love a good challenge.

 

[djmulder]

lol where are you from?
ah more lol from canada

DJ_M

 

[djmulder]

well I'm now busy retracing the one at lad2..I bought a conductive pen today in den haag ...it's worth a try

but my question is still: is it worth trying? I tried to retrace (dunno if it worked but tried) both busted parts earlier and still got a frag and a power cycle of 3 times on and off...is that safable?

DJ_M