So built it up.. didn't work.. was about to throw it out of the window, then saw a tiny short between the CPU pins, gnats knacker sized.. removed it, and now its running away! One thing I have noticed (oddly) is these boosters seem to be running fine with 10K on my motherboard alone.. so possible I ...

My favourite is the old Maplin one on the left, it may take a few minutes to heat up, but it's so consistent, I just know it will do what I ask of it. I've actually got the same one! Mine stopped getting hot.. so brought a new iron, then it still didn't seem to be getting hot enough to melt solder....

So another pass and another fail on the red boards.. :roll: Out of red boards now! Considering there was 14 originally I have only four at the moment which can go into stock.. Basically no more boards after these for a while.. Trying to quickly build up one of these tweaked boards tonight... Of cour...

Didn't even notice it was password protected.. just looked for cheapest well they had in stock...

sandord wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 20, 2018 5:07 pm

There's a thin layer of silver on the tip (perhaps really cheap ones use something else) and if it burns off, you're done.

I think I read Weller tips have something "stronger" than most...

Changed the tip..

Look at the old one! its gone right deformed!!

Forgottenmyname wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 20, 2018 4:54 pm

Maybe its the lead free solder and modern flux? Mine used to never wear out either. I've even got some old Antex yellow irons from years ago, still useable if ever needed.

I don't use lead free..

I am looking at getting a Weller iron, something like this one.. https://uk.farnell.com/weller/t0053298699/soldering-station-70w-230vac-450deg/dp/2851721 We used to use weller irons in my old job, never had any issues with them. Though my iron, the tips are terrible :( Lucky to get a few weeks out o...

They are all Via's.

My tip is actually a new one, they go black so fast its terrible. I mean the weller irons and tips we used to use in my old workplace never used to need to change them. I need a new iron and some quality tips

Got 3 more boards working.. then the next 2 don't :( Resoldered the thing like 4 times, makes no odds.. and yet I checked all the CPU pins were connected and no shorts before soldering the pins and GAL into place , pretty annoying, I mean its getting to like 50% failure rate and no idea why :roll: T...