P3 Flexmod solder pads?

[dnar]

I setup my gear for a full test today, in preparation for a show tomorrow night.

Lucky I did, the 445nm in my main projector was out.

Turns out I had a bad solder joint on the P3 Flexmod, one of the LD joints. The wire pulled straight out of the pad when I checked.

Turns out, it's bloody hard to get the solder pads to "wet". I had no end of trouble re-soldering this joint. Has anyone else noticed this with the P3?

[LaNeK779]

in the three flexmods that i have tried to solder it seems as if the varnish that covers the pcb has covered the solder pads as well.
the soldering was not easy, as you say it took some effort to get the pads to "wet", to make the silvery blob stick there and stay there

it was a success at the end, it just takes extra effort and a 15watt soldering iron in my case, so as not to fry anything

[andy_con]

i find the solder pads on the p3 rubbish.

i get so annoyed in the end i just pull out my 30w iron, which is really extreme for such small soldering jobs. fir such tiny pads my 12w iron should be fine

[dnar]

i find the solder pads on the p3 rubbish.

i get so annoyed in the end i just pull out my 30w iron, which is really extreme for such small soldering jobs. fir such tiny pads my 12w iron should be fine

Yeah I agree. Today I resorted to my Thermaltronics RF induction iron. That things kicks ass. Burn baby burn.

[andy_con]

ive currently got 30 p3 drivers and im pretty sure i will have issues with soldering each of them.

its rare i get my 30w iron out these days but whenever i use the p3 it always comes out

[dnar]

ive currently got 30 p3 drivers and im pretty sure i will have issues with soldering each of them.

its rare i get my 30w iron out these days but whenever i use the p3 it always comes out

I have some spares too, I should try scratching the pads to see if they are in fact covered with varnish or solder mask...

It might be a simple case of remove the varnish first.

[andy_con]

Scratching helps but some of the pads are so small its hard to

[dnar]

Scratching helps but some of the pads are so small its hard to

I had better luck soldering the Supply input and modulation pads were I used PCB pins. The interlock and LD pads have much smaller holes so could not use the pins on these.

[chad]

I noticed the same thing.
I just looked at it under the microscope. ALL of the solder joints look a little cold. I am hoping that it is just ROHS (lead free) typical cold looking joints. Even the tinning doesn't look like it stuck well.
The other thing that didn't help is the top and bottom pad size for the solder-able points. It only extends around the hole by about .010", doesn't give much room for a solder fillet.

My guess is that the board house skipped some step or took some shortcut.

Oh well, it is still a great driver.
chad

[dnar]

Hi Chad, long time no see.