Soldering?

[00accord44]

Okay, so I wanna change the lights in my climate control, clock, and ignition to LED, but it requires soldering. I already did my guage cluster LED and it looks great, but it was direct replacement, no soldering needed. But now that I have it, I'm itching to get the rest done.

I could send my climate control board and clock off to have it done for me, but they'll charge me about $20 + shipping there and back. And I'd rather have the satisfaction of doing it myself.

So my question is, how hard is it to solder succesfully? I don't wanna try it and end up ruining my control board forever. I'm not a complete noob when it comes to modding stuff, I generally DIY stuff through trial and error. But when it comes to electronics, error usually results in no more trials.

So is soldering something I should try to do myself? For reference, I've succesfully installed my HID kit, foglights, swapped out guages multiple times, replaced my door speakers, and taken out my headlight housings more times than I'd like to remember.

To see exactly what I'm talking about Click Here

These are the Directions Or if anybody in the Chicago area is good at soldering, I'd gladly throw the $20 your way to avoid the shipping charges

[Rbraczyk]

Soldering is relatively simple. Whoever did that on that website did a terrible job. You need an iron, flux, and a very thin solder from radio shack. Should run you 20-25 bucks. You essentially need to brush what you're about to solder with flux, to help make the soldier flow. Get the iron nice and hot, and have a wet sponge or paper towel to wipe the iron off on. Take the tip of the solder and touch it against the tip or the iron, giving you a nice bead. bring that down to the two points you are about to conjoin, and the flux will allow it to bridge. Any more questions, hit me up on aim. I'd also practice on suff before you do it on your car parts.

[00accord44]

Gracias. Any suggestions on random things I could practice solder? I can't think of any thin metal wire I have around the house. Or I guess I could practice by soldering the iron to something useless like a wire hanger first???

[2.2 Straight six]

you can get kits to make little blinking lights, and various similar things. you'll probably find them at your local radio shack. soldering's easy, you can pick it up in about 5-10 mins if you have good manual dexterity.

i learned just by making those little kits, it's kinda fun, satisfying and good practice. you'll be soldering LEDs to everything in no time.

[ericn1300]

anybody try one of those "cold soldering" devices. i've been wondering how they do at the board, or componet level?

[sganc4life_4]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

anybody try one of those "cold soldering" devices. i've been wondering how they do at the board, or componet level?

Those things are the biggest peices of shit, dont get one.

[Rbraczyk]

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

you can get kits to make little blinking lights, and various similar things. you'll probably find them at your local radio shack. soldering's easy, you can pick it up in about 5-10 mins if you have good manual dexterity.

i learned just by making those little kits, it's kinda fun, satisfying and good practice. you'll be soldering LEDs to everything in no time.

i agree with getting one of the practice kits. They're pretty inexpensive.

[00accord44]

Thanks fellas. I'll be making a trip to radio shack soon. Time to add one more thing to the list of random things I know how to do.

[ghostrx7]

its easy, just remember the solder follows the hot iron. and if hot enough, it melts right it to the board. goodluck.

[WickedNYCowboy]

Get some Rosin core solder and a Soldering Iron. Get a flux that isn't too thick and your set.

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

anybody try one of those "cold soldering" devices. i've been wondering how they do at the board, or componet level?

I hav one and I think it works great !
One thing, it uses electricity through the tip, if you solder on electronic boards thiers a chance you can fry electronic parts, I hav ruined more LEDs with it then I can count.
It actually lights up the LED when you solder it with the Cold Heat thing.

They work best with new batteries.

Good Luck

[pre98zetec]

remember to get the right value resistor according to voltage otherwise you will burn up your LED's.

[Steel]

you can get a butane powered soldering iron if you're worried aobut electricity through the tip. Not to mention you dont have that damn cable hanging off the back getting in the way.

[beef_bourito]

soldering is really easy, while you're at radio shack, buy some spare wire and practice on that. try not to get a huge goop of solder, it should be thin and strong. other than that, just follow everyones advice. also, you don't need a butane soldering iron, just get the cheapest thing you can find, i doubt you'll notice a difference between them other than heat up time and cool-down time and they won't fry circuits (other than maybe the cold solder device).

[Igovert500]

First time I soldered, was putting a chip into my Sony playstation. As said above, it isn't hard. Doing a clean job takes a bit of practice, so in retrospect, I'd practice on 2 wires, before I tried anything on a circuit board. Because if you overflow or anything, it could potentially short something out. But don't be intimidated, it's pretty simple.