Hacking How the hell do people burn their Wiis?

[bttfpromo]

I mean, it's not that hard to solder the points. With a 15-watt, you just hold for half a second, then push the flux into the tip.


Repeat a few times, then do on the modchip board.

 

[DRACO]

not all people have good experience

 

[kai445]

yeah it looks like people are not just using very hot irons (which in experienced hands wouldnt be a problem), but it looks like they like to touch the pcb ALOT and also like to rest the tip of the iron on things like connectors and ribbons.

 

[Louse76]

It is beyond me as well. I never soldered before and was ok.

Not being lazy and getting the right equipment is key IMO.

Flux and 15w iron make the job easy!

 

[Azimuth]

ya i was wondering too

I was very inexperienced when i did it, used a huge tipped iron,really thick solder and i did a perfect install. I dont understand how people manage to do such damage to their Wiis.

 

[mzzmuaa]

i soldered like a retard(smearing on tip and applying to points) and didn't use flux

 

[Soybomb]

My wii went fine but I've lifted pads off a pcb in the past. I think its easy to want to get that perfect solder joint and in a split second you've applied too much heat and its all over. Ok to great to sad takes place over a second or two

 

[bttfpromo]

not all people have good experience

I had 20 minutes of self teaching and watching a video.

 

[Louse76]

i soldered like a retard(smearing on tip and applying to points) and didn't use flux

Yay for retardation!

 

[Robotochan]

I had 20 minutes practise on an old IDE Controller PCI Card. I will say that my soldering job way beyond sub par but it all works fine. Took Solder Pad 3 off the Wiikey but the wire stayed connected so I selotaped it down. Not even a sign of burnt PCB

 

[Freeek]

I've got 55W iron you think it could burn wii instantly?

 

[Smuff]

I'm struggling to get my solder to melt and flow properly..........
Think I may need a more powerful hairdryer ?

 

[DRACO]

hell yeah a 55 watt will freggin torch it

 

[Hogmeister]

hell yeah a 55 watt will freggin torch it

i have a 45 watt one from craftmsman that works perfectly for this. i used it to mod my wii, plan to mod the girlfriend's mother's and both of my brothers as well lol

its all about knowing how to use the damned things

 

[TLSpartan]

just spend 15AUD on a 15 watt iron. save u time and stress. most solder has flux in it. i wouldnt use lead free solder if anyones using it, but if your in the EU you have to use lead free.lead free needs more heat, and maybe thats y some of your pads lift

 

[Killian]

The Watts don't really matter, the majority heat up to the same temperature......... its just the higher wattage have more heat in reserve so don't cool down as fast. Get yourself a damp sponge and make sure you tin the wires and everything honkey dorey : )

I'd never soldered before but did hours of research before I put iron to wii............... took me a while but had no problems : ) Have even done a friends now!

 

[kai445]

i wouldnt use lead free solder if anyones using it, but if your in the EU you have to use lead free.lead free needs more heat, and maybe thats y some of your pads lift

My best advice in those cases are to use an SnAgCu lead-free solder (melting point ~217C), its a higher melting point than PbSn (183C) but makes a strong connection and is a better mixture than other lead-free alloys.

 

[FAST6191]

Personally I prefer a really hot iron as I think most people burn stuff by leaving a weak iron that is not heated properly on for too long.

As for lead free most small electronics shops still stock lead tin stuff.

 

[arthurkok2]

most importantly, a soldering iron with a SMALL tip like on most 15w irons. I had a 12W iron and the tip is freakin small, which means, easier and more accurate soldering.