Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

PDA Contact repair

0 helpful
3 replies

by lyon_bleu

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Several docking contacts on my well-out-of-warranty-Visor have lost their gold plating and become pitted with corrosion. IR is working fine for synching and installing, albeit slowly, and I'm still able to recharge in the cradle. I've been thinking about tinning the contacts with a *small* soldering pencil, but before I do anything irrevocable, I was wondering if anyone else had been there?

3 replies

by technowiz_wanabe

You may have better luck using the same technique that is used to unlock processor bridges for overclocking. This is done by masking around the area to be repaired with packing tape and applying "liquid solder" on the area to be repaired. Be sure toclean the contact first. Toothpaste and a toothpick work well for this. The good thing about this process it that there is no heat applied to the PCB which could damage it and you can be very precise with the repair.

by lyon_bleu

TNX, T_W, for the hint.
FWIW, I used an "Edge Connector Cleaner & Protector" sold by Radio Shack [64-4340] and promptly discovered the problem was much deeper; the entire contact assembly had separated from the PCB. For lack of a better source, back to RS and used "Silver-Bearing Paste" [64-029] and a 15W iron to reattach. Much joy 8^)
The cleaner works much better than rubber erasers or sprays, IMHO; it doesn't seem to interfere with flux, either.

by technowiz_wanabe

Let me know how it holds up. I've got a HDD that one of the pins had pushed into the PCB, and need to do much the same to resolder...

This discussion is closed to new replies.