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Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 6:27 am
by bidibule
Hi all !
Just started with the Version 5.E of the Kite's AIO and I'm at the section where I needed to trim the usb pad from the pi zero backboard.
I've done it but When I try to apply solder, it doesn't stick to the board. I can't make a little blob on it.
Check the attachement
Did I trim the wrong way? :/
Thank you all !
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 7:16 am
by kite
I'm afraid those pads are ruined.. for your 2nd pi, don't bother trimming them.. instead carefully place the kapton tape so that it covers those silver bits either side (to prevent shorts)..
Also, you may have your iron too high, but I can't really tell that from this other than those pads are gone!
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 7:22 am
by bidibule
Arf so I need another Pi I guess ? I have one in backup not a problem
So I can just only place a little blob on it like other solder pads (Which I didn't have to trim) after placing kapton tape ?
It would be easier of course
Thanks kite
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 7:35 am
by bidibule
kite wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 7:16 am
I'm afraid those pads are ruined.. for your 2nd pi, don't bother trimming them.. instead carefully place the kapton tape so that it covers those silver bits either side (to prevent shorts)..
Also, you may have your iron too high, but I can't really tell that from this other than those pads are gone!
My iron is set to 270° for your information. ok with that ?
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 7:57 am
by kite
Correct, the kapton tape is to prevent solder touching those silver bits on either side, which are GND, which would make USB not work at all, so very important
270*C sounds perfectly safe, I suspect the cutting may have damaged the glue stuff that holds it on rather than your iron. Make sure to take your time and use some good quality solder, your joints should come out like the ones i have in the pictures.. if it doesn't (always do a test first on some dummy board or something) then you may need better solder, or a flux pen (to pre-flux the pads)
You may find when soldering the bigger holes/pads that you will need to up the temperature, as especially the GND pins will be way harder on low temperatures..
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 8:17 am
by bidibule
kite wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 7:57 am
Correct, the kapton tape is to prevent solder touching those silver bits on either side, which are GND, which would make USB not work at all, so very important
270*C sounds perfectly safe, I suspect the cutting may have damaged the glue stuff that holds it on rather than your iron. Make sure to take your time and use some good quality solder, your joints should come out like the ones i have in the pictures.. if it doesn't (always do a test first on some dummy board or something) then you may need better solder, or a flux pen (to pre-flux the pads)
You may find when soldering the bigger holes/pads that you will need to up the temperature, as especially the GND pins will be way harder on low temperatures..
Thanks kite's !
Well I soldered the USB pads on the board and everything seems to work.
I don't know if my holes are well filled by I launched the pi zero with retropie and it loads emulation station (with no gamepad detected, I just plug the pi and board to hdmi scrren) so I guess it's good ?
As you said, I think 270° sometime is not enought because I had problem melting the soldered pad or filling the holes so I raise it to 320° and well it's easier
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 8:38 am
by kite
Run it in tester mode first to see what it detects
Re: Problem with USB pad trim and pi 0
Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 8:42 am
by bidibule
Ok Thanks I'll try.
I'm at the step where I solder 3 pin on the GPIO and then need to test it before going further.
I admit I have some difficulties with filling the holes with solder easily !
