Oh noes, Capacitors!

Nizmox · 19th February 2008, 7:45 PM

So... I have just broken two capacitors off my Graphics Card (being extremely careless).
Is there any thing I can do to repair the damage? Will soldering these back on the card fix my problem?
Any help is much appreciated

spludgey · 19th February 2008, 7:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nizmox

So... I have just broken two capacitors off my Graphics Card (being extremely careless).
Is there any thing I can do to repair the damage? Will soldering these back on the card fix my problem?
Any help is much appreciated

Can you take a picture?
Hopefully you've just broken the capacitors and haven't ripped the connection off the board. If that's the case you can just get replacement capcaitors and solder them in there instead.

Nizmox · 19th February 2008, 7:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spludgey

Can you take a picture?
Hopefully you've just broken the capacitors and haven't ripped the connection off the board. If that's the case you can just get replacement capcaitors and solder them in there instead.

Are the connections the two little metal pieces attached to the capacitors? that's where the card has broken

. Everything on the back of the board looks fine. Do I need to buy new capacitors? won't the existing ones be ok?

Really cannot believe how stupid I was...

newSpeak · 19th February 2008, 7:58 PM

you need to post a picture.

Nizmox · 19th February 2008, 8:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newSpeak

you need to post a picture.

Pictures are up... here
Unfortunately all I have is my camera phone and the picture quality is piss poor at best.

The capacitors have a black piece of plastic underneath them and two metal prongs sticking out which I presume is what I need to resolder back on to the board.

newSpeak · 19th February 2008, 8:06 PM

Yep.

Make sure you get it round the right way (look at how the other ones are placed relative to the printed bit on the circuit board).

Nizmox · 19th February 2008, 8:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newSpeak

Yep.

Make sure you get it round the right way (look at how the other ones are placed relative to the printed bit on the circuit board).

Thanks so much, I swear I nearly cried when I realised what I had done.

dakiller · 19th February 2008, 8:16 PM

Easy fix, you haven't done any damage at all to the PCB and the capacitors are fine I'd image too.

stoj19. · 19th February 2008, 8:49 PM

poor nizmox.....

Odje · 19th February 2008, 8:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nizmox

Pictures are up... here

You need to post a proper picture.

Nizmox · 19th February 2008, 9:56 PM

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll let you know how it goes.

Can't really post any better pics because I don't have a camera to take any.

Nizmox · 20th February 2008, 7:01 PM

Ok so this is no where near as easy as I hoped.
I got out the soldering Iron today and found it's not hot enough to melt the existing solder on the connectors (40W iron). I also think this is above and beyond my skills with a soldering iron.

Does anyone know of any stores in Sydney that can do the repairs for me? Even if it costs me $50 to resolder two capacitors, it's money well spent. (Preferably in the CBD)

Glock · 20th February 2008, 7:38 PM

I can't say I can help, but I know your problem - you're probably using a fine point not a chisel tip right? Ever soldered with lead-free before?
Plus on a PCB there's way more to dissipate the heat than just plain wiring.

That all said, you *should* be able to do it, especially if you can get a chisel tip (holds the heat better).

Other than that, there's probably a few people here that might be able to help.

Elder · 20th February 2008, 8:01 PM

You might be able to melt the solder if you apply a little bit of new solder yourself while trying to heat it, the new melted solder will help heat transfer to the old stuff.

If your concerned just wait a bit surely someone on here has the right gear and lives close enough.

Glock · 20th February 2008, 8:09 PM

Yep, good advice, but make sure that if you try the 'adding new stuff' technique, that you use LEAD FREE. Leaded and Lead free don't mix, and they will overtime corrode.

With that in mind you should probably use a different tip if you've been using lead.

19th February 2008, 7:45 PM	#1
Nizmox Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 627	Oh noes, Capacitors! So... I have just broken two capacitors off my Graphics Card (being extremely careless). Is there any thing I can do to repair the damage? Will soldering these back on the card fix my problem? Any help is much appreciated __________________ Intel Core i7 3930K \| Gigabyte G1.Assassin2 Motherboard \| Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz 8-8-8-24-2T \| Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD \| Sapphire Radeon HD7970 3GB OC

19th February 2008, 8:16 PM	#8
dakiller (Oscillating & Impeding) Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SE Melb Posts: 6,151	Easy fix, you haven't done any damage at all to the PCB and the capacitors are fine I'd image too. __________________ In memory of Cheers Z

19th February 2008, 9:56 PM	#11
Nizmox Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 627	Thanks for all the help guys, I'll let you know how it goes. Can't really post any better pics because I don't have a camera to take any. __________________ Intel Core i7 3930K \| Gigabyte G1.Assassin2 Motherboard \| Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz 8-8-8-24-2T \| Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD \| Sapphire Radeon HD7970 3GB OC

20th February 2008, 7:01 PM	#12
Nizmox Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 627	Ok so this is no where near as easy as I hoped. I got out the soldering Iron today and found it's not hot enough to melt the existing solder on the connectors (40W iron). I also think this is above and beyond my skills with a soldering iron. Does anyone know of any stores in Sydney that can do the repairs for me? Even if it costs me $50 to resolder two capacitors, it's money well spent. (Preferably in the CBD) __________________ Intel Core i7 3930K \| Gigabyte G1.Assassin2 Motherboard \| Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz 8-8-8-24-2T \| Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD \| Sapphire Radeon HD7970 3GB OC Last edited by Nizmox; 20th February 2008 at 7:29 PM.

20th February 2008, 7:38 PM	#13
Glock Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,248	I can't say I can help, but I know your problem - you're probably using a fine point not a chisel tip right? Ever soldered with lead-free before? Plus on a PCB there's way more to dissipate the heat than just plain wiring. That all said, you should be able to do it, especially if you can get a chisel tip (holds the heat better). Other than that, there's probably a few people here that might be able to help. __________________ White P!!! NINTENDO™ DS Lite Owners Club Member #0060

19th February 2008, 7:58 PM	#4
newSpeak Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 183	you need to post a picture.

19th February 2008, 8:06 PM	#6
newSpeak Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 183	Yep. Make sure you get it round the right way (look at how the other ones are placed relative to the printed bit on the circuit board).

19th February 2008, 8:49 PM	#9
stoj19. Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 450	poor nizmox.....

20th February 2008, 8:01 PM	#14
Elder Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 609	You might be able to melt the solder if you apply a little bit of new solder yourself while trying to heat it, the new melted solder will help heat transfer to the old stuff. If your concerned just wait a bit surely someone on here has the right gear and lives close enough.

20th February 2008, 8:09 PM	#15
Glock Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,248	Yep, good advice, but make sure that if you try the 'adding new stuff' technique, that you use LEAD FREE. Leaded and Lead free don't mix, and they will overtime corrode. With that in mind you should probably use a different tip if you've been using lead. __________________ White P!!! NINTENDO™ DS Lite Owners Club Member #0060