Please help - Misco USB removing - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: stk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 04:10:38 pm
content: Hi all my brother had a great idea of fixing these micro USB connections on the x10i phone.Its a common problem and he has purchased a load of the micro USB connectors so I can remove the old one and fit the new ones.Problem is how the bloody hell do you remove these things there horrible.I can only imagine the whole assembly is heated and it melts the solder in one go because there is all so pads under the connector you cant get to to actually heat up the solder.Some one said about wave soldering? I have no idea what that is.Can I use a small butane torche as long as I protect the rest of the components?.Here is the device and main board less the bloody pads I tore off.Crap image shack LOLhere is tiny pic

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 04:12:20 pm
content: Your imageshack link requires registration to view the pictures, tryhttp://imgur.com

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 04:18:28 pm
content: ..or copy the direct link imageshack gives you.

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 04:37:08 pm
content: Sorry for being so derisory, but what in the world gave you the impression that you can do that so nonchalantly? Then, you want to have a go with a butane torch? Yay!Depending on your equipment level, I would recommend using:a) (preferably) a hot air de-soldering station (i.e. one of the tools that everybody talks about in this forum + some of David's videos) orb) a hot air gun at around 400 deg. C while protecting everything else with an aluminium foil mask.At some point, all the solder (including underneath the component) will melt allowing you to remove the connector without any mechanical stress.However, there are some skill requirements using these tools on a highly integrated and miniaturized PCM.Good luck!

author: stk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 04:46:34 pm
content: LOL we removed the metal shell to allow access to the small feet under the shield.But yeah once I got the thing off and spotted there was pads under this thing I assumed it had to be done with a heat gun or sorts.Any links to a decent one on Ebay that you lot would recommend?.Some one did say they used a small butane solder iron but with the blow torch attachment?.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2012, 06:39:59 am
content: Quote from: stk on February 06, 2012, 04:46:34 pmlol, not a blow torch! a butane iron/torch with a hot air catalyst is what they're referring to...Portasolis nice while it works. Its expensive and isn't supported by Weller when it craps out.TheBernzomatic ST250Kincludes a hot air tip and costs only $15 at home depot. Both are great for heat shrink, field soldering, the occasional hot-air rework task, solder jobs that need lots-o-watts, cutting rope, etc.Add lots of flux prior to de-soldering.-sj

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2012, 06:46:44 am
content: also, if you clip any of the leads prior to desoldering, things get much easier as you now can remove the clipped leads one at time vs everything at once.-sj

author: cybergibbons
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2012, 09:21:35 am
content: Are you planning on getting paid to do this to other people's phones? It looks like a challenging thing to do, even for someone skilled. I'd try it on my own phone, but not on someone else's.Even with hot air, it's going to be hard to remove just the socket without damaging something else. There are tiny resistors (0402?) next to it, and it will be hard not blasting them off the board. The strip connector by the side of it is easy to melt and then the plug won't mate correctly or will pop out easily. The vibration motor normally has small plastic components in it. Lastly, the board looks very thin, which makes matter worse.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2012, 09:34:34 am
content: you would use a low melting point solder, there is one along the name of chip-quick, pretty much apply it to all the pins, heat it up, and they stay liquid long enough to lift the whole piece off (heating all the pads equally so one doesnt begin to become solid again)

author: stk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2012, 09:56:55 am
content: Thanks for all the feedback.Its me bro`s bloody fault he had this great idea of fixing them its a common fault he said its not hard.When I first saw the phone layout and the stupid micro USB I said then its going to be hard.He said give it a go.And we did and made a right mess of it LOL.We then spotted there is pads under the micro usb socket I then realized you cant heat up just the pads you need to heat the whole thing up in one go and let it fall off by its own weight.I will look into getting a decent tool like one of the things sonicj posted a link to.