Hacking Hardware Picofly - a HWFLY switch modchip

[deeps]

hello guys...

so im about to resolder back my mosfet, now im using enameled 0.2mm

Spoiler: enameled 0.2mm

View attachment 370759
View attachment 370760

but i got problem.

i cant melt the solder lead to the tip enameled
i wanted the lead solder melt and stick properly to the enameled point
mmmn.... any tips how to melt it ?
im using 300-350 heat

Spoiler

View attachment 370770

i follow this video :
SolderJS #135 - The BEST Way to Tin Enameled Wire

but still wont sticky

help
thx


(the purpose , so i can easily solder it to the cpu caps resistor from the mosfet D(drain) to the cpu caps.
View attachment 370769
*this picture, i want my enamaled 0.2mm cable can be soldered melt like this !
(but ignore me, for other soldering i can do properly without no problem, my main help , just for the two cables to the tip cpu caps , help pls.)

There are several isolation materials available for enamel wires. One of the common ones with a higher melting point is polyesterimide, which you probably have. I have to use 450 degrees to melt it. You'll probably want the polyurethane variant, which has a lower melting point.

 

[LogicalMadness]

Come on if you want to replace the fan or whatever you just unscrew the shield and lift a little bit the rp2040…
I can’t understand why you make it look like a problem

Yikes,sigh,oof,I'm done. GLHF!

 

[QuiTim]

Also, when soldering to board, is it necessary to solder to one point, or i can solder to two nearby points(marked them on picture with red line on d0, cmd, clk lines)?

It is better to solder to both points (since they are connected anyway) so you can have stronger joints and less chances of ripping something from the board.

 

[Dee87]

Yikes,sigh,oof,I'm done. GLHF!

hahahhahahaha
mister over complicating things , is telling people how they complicate things when they installing the rp on top of the shield Xd

i mean i agree with u that he should just cut the shield Xd

 

[LogicalMadness]

hahahhahahaha
mister over complicating things , is telling people how they complicate things when they installing the rp on top of the shield Xd

i mean i agree with u that he should just cut the shield Xd

I probably didn't say it nicely enough or something. Pretty sure I gave plenty of examples for why it will possibly give issues though.

Everyone seems to be running headfirst into the hardest mod out there AND it's only a few months old. The handholding on this forum is... out of hand...

Then, when I see advice that I know will cause more forum-questions than answers, I feel compelled to relate my experience. I see now how pointless it is though, 'people gonna people'.

And I "overcomplicate" my procedures in the beginning so that I know the way I like to do 'it' best and only improve for the rest of time

 

[Dee87]

I probably didn't say it nicely enough or something. Pretty sure I gave plenty of examples for why it will possibly give issues though.

Everyone seems to be running headfirst into the hardest mod out there AND it's only a few months old. The handholding on this forum is... out of hand...

Then, when I see advice that I know will cause more forum-questions than answers, I feel compelled to relate my experience. I see now how pointless it is though, 'people gonna people'.

And I "overcomplicate" my procedures in the beginning so that I know the way I like to do 'it' best and only improve for the rest of time

im just not gonna say anything to ur last sentece XD

 

[LogicalMadness]

im just not gonna say anything to ur last sentece XD

But...you JUST did with that... XD

Ugh, speaking of which, gotta get to work teaching these Pis to Fly... Got another OLED coming today.

 

[nico77]

is there another cable type
easy to solder>joint
for mosfet>cpu caps, D0,CMD,CLK,RST

im using enamel 0.2mm but i feel not sure using it.....
i have test peel the isolation using cutter, scratch2 the skin isolation...

sometimes lead solder stick, sometime wont sticky...
i feel not confident using enamel....

help

 

[Dee87]

But...you JUST did with that... XD

Ugh, speaking of which, gotta get to work teaching these Pis to Fly... Got another OLED coming today.

stop cutting them poor things then they will instantly fly :-)

 

[lightninjay]

is there another cable type
easy to solder>joint
for mosfet>cpu caps, D0,CMD,CLK,RST

im using enamel 0.2mm but i feel not sure using it.....
i have test peel the isolation using cutter, scratch2 the skin isolation...

sometimes lead solder stick, sometime wont sticky...
i feel not confident using enamel....

help

You just need to practice pre-tinning the tips of the enamel wire. You're likely still trying at too low of a temp. Set your iron to 390C, hold the tip of the enameled wire against the head of your soldering iron, and apply solder so that the tip of the enameled wire enters the solder ball. If you pull the wire tip out and it isn't silvery, then put it back in until it is when you pull it out. Once the wire is tinned, it is just as easy to solder with as any other wire.

If you can't figure this part out, take it to a professional, because it is a sign that your soldering skills are not quite up to the skill required for a mod like this.

 

[nico77]

You just need to practice pre-tinning the tips of the enamel wire. You're likely still trying at too low of a temp. Set your iron to 390C, hold the tip of the enameled wire against the head of your soldering iron, and apply solder so that the tip of the enameled wire enters the solder ball. If you pull the wire tip out and it isn't silvery, then put it back in until it is when you pull it out. Once the wire is tinned, it is just as easy to solder with as any other wire.

If you can't figure this part out, take it to a professional, because it is a sign that your soldering skills are not quite up to the skill required for a mod like this.

yep
im practice with 400-450. (the solder hot, my hand getting too hot)
feel like the isolation burn...

im back testing burn the isolation using 0.1mm
it removed faster...

this is 0.2mm

i think the reason it wont stick, bcs theres some black dirt residue came from the iron soldering tip.

Spoiler

(this is example image. )
that dirt
it came back again and again even after i clean them.
usually i can peel them after the solder cool
and the color came back to copper again.

im using copper tip.

Spoiler

need to practice again

 

[DynaMight]

is there another cable type
easy to solder>joint
for mosfet>cpu caps, D0,CMD,CLK,RST

im using enamel 0.2mm but i feel not sure using it.....
i have test peel the isolation using cutter, scratch2 the skin isolation...

sometimes lead solder stick, sometime wont sticky...
i feel not confident using enamel....

help

I used 30awg Kynar wire on my install. It went fine, although I used a CPU cable rather than a DIY mosfet but you could strip the shielding from the wire and use the bare wire as long as you have solder mask for inside the CPU shield.

I dont know if all enamel wire is equal but I also struggled to remove the enamel on the stuff I have, I've watched Youtube videos of others using it and it seems to strip back with the lightest touch of solder, my stuff seems to require it to be dipped into the surface of the sun before it starts to strip

 

[abal1000x]

yep
im practice with 400-450. (the solder hot, my hand getting too hot)
feel like the isolation burn...

im back testing burn the isolation using 0.1mm
it removed faster...

this is 0.2mm
View attachment 370933
View attachment 370934


i think the reason it wont stick, bcs theres some black dirt residue came from the iron soldering tip.

Spoiler

View attachment 370937

(this is example image. )
that dirt
it came back again and again even after i clean them.
usually i can peel them after the solder cool
and the color came back to copper again.

im using copper tip.

Spoiler

View attachment 370936

need to practice again

Dont peel them. Theres a coating in there. If you peel them, the coating's gone.
Use dry sponge specialized for this (dont wet it with water).
Or buy rosin box its cheap only $0.1.
Or just use dry tissue
Anything but don't peel.

Rosin
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001726589650.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.45.41e63e6dHAis6O&algo_pvid=ec5d9a3b-ecc5-4718-8b54-b57d94f21e63&algo_exp_id=ec5d9a3b-ecc5-4718-8b54-b57d94f21e63-22&pdp_npi=3@dis!IDR!17684.0!17684.0!!!!!@211bea6216839122891364373d07ea!12000022154192476!sea!ID!0&curPageLogUid=PyVCnAJWZHaZ

Sponge
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32907448852.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.21.126a4ad4j5j58Q&algo_pvid=fbe8b867-4c93-4e9a-a3b7-51f33843c4f8&algo_exp_id=fbe8b867-4c93-4e9a-a3b7-51f33843c4f8-10&pdp_npi=3@dis!IDR!15057.0!14756.0!!!!!@211bd8be16839123615381633d07c3!65887874616!sea!ID!0&curPageLogUid=036a6tZAtAbD

If the dirt thick, you might try use citric acid like this
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005539263418.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.25.1f2050c9zfMcp0&algo_pvid=1eb002df-3a93-464b-b2ce-728485e6242c&algo_exp_id=1eb002df-3a93-464b-b2ce-728485e6242c-12&pdp_npi=3@dis!IDR!20844.0!10000.0!!!!!@21227f7e16839126092646745d077c!12000033461630707!sea!ID!0&curPageLogUid=0grUcEvbexxm

Turn on the solder, and put it into the citric acid, to clean it up.





Note:
Always tin your solder before turn it off, so the coating got coated by tin, to prevent further corrosion.

 

[Danook28]

Also, when soldering to board, is it necessary to solder to one point, or i can solder to two nearby points(marked them on picture with red line on d0, cmd, clk lines)?

The rst not bridge point togther yes or no???

 

[DesDeux]

The rst not bridge point togther yes or no???

No bridging, I solder rst wire to emmc. And soldering d0, cmd, clk to the motherboard doesn't help with my issue(blue->pink(purple)). Would be funny if it's just faulty rp2040 zero.

 

[str42]

Hey guys, tonight I will install the mod (finally). I have 2 questions:

1. I'm thinking about soldering CPU wire to flex cable's middle resistor. Can I bend the end of the flex cable to place it under the CPU shield without cutting anything? I would go this way if I can go without cutting the shielding and the end of the flex cable.
2. Since my machine isn't modded yet, is it recommended to update to 16.0.3 before doing anything? Currently it's on 16.0.0. Is Lockpick working on the newest FW?

Thanks!

 

[Danook28]

No bridging, I solder rst wire to emmc. And soldering d0, cmd, clk to the motherboard doesn't help with my issue(blue->pink(purple)). Would be funny if it's just faulty rp2040 zero.

If bridge that well damge nand...?

 

[Adran_Marit]

I probably didn't say it nicely enough or something. Pretty sure I gave plenty of examples for why it will possibly give issues though.

Everyone seems to be running headfirst into the hardest mod out there AND it's only a few months old. The handholding on this forum is... out of hand...

Then, when I see advice that I know will cause more forum-questions than answers, I feel compelled to relate my experience. I see now how pointless it is though, 'people gonna people'.

And I "overcomplicate" my procedures in the beginning so that I know the way I like to do 'it' best and only improve for the rest of time

Just because a mod is cheap doesn't mean it's easy. - Trust me I learnt the hard way - Adran 2023

Guess how I learnt that. But I agree, this mod is not for the feint of heart

 

[ppeach]

Installing pico on V2 or lite is not that difficult.
It is a matter of prior preparation and not using the proper tools and parts.
You need at least a proper soldering iron tip, good quality flux, low-melting solder wire and hwfly flex cable.
If a beginner tries to imitate an expert like the one in the video, he will definitely fail.

 

[Mr Skinner]

Well it's done, with huge success.

First picofly install for testing in my own switch lite. I preferred make myself the mosfet glitcher. The soldering process is painful, same in microscope.


I was in doubt if was better start the installation test in my v2 or lite. How is basically for learning, I guess the micropoints solders of lite are a good teacher about difficulty with micro soldering. Next phase is try a oled installation from zero, included homemade mosfet glitcher

I confess: the micropoints of switch lite board for clock/cmd/dat0/ dive me in a frequent conspiracy about shortcut. I was made the soldering points near of 20 times, to certificate about the things are completely well done.