In bit of a jam

SpearMan74 · Post by **SpearMan74** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:05 pm

Well not a little one, but a big one. I have soldered all the wires to the contacts on the N64 for the expansion pack relocation. I have put 3 layers of clear nail polish on them, pretty much what Timmeh's looks like mine does. The wires are under an inch long, and this is my problem: When i try to solder the wires onto the expansion pack board the heat goes through the wire, and melts the solder and polish.

I've tried a few attempts to go around the problem but they didn't work at all. My next idea is to put a stock n64 heatsink in the freezer for awhile, pull it out, and push it on the wire half way from the expansion pack and the n64 contacts, hopefully disolving the heat. I'm thinking it would be really labor intensive, but i cannot come up with any other ideas.

Any ideas?

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:48 pm

Use some flux and some aligator clips or something similar to clip onto the wires to help dissipate the heat a little better while you solder. Make sure you tin the wires and the board first, that would help a lot too. You may want to try a cooler iron, too.

Just suggestions. I've been in similar situations, but there has been a couple times when I've had to start over with longer leads. Good luck getting it all to work. I know how annoying that can be.

SpearMan74 · Post by **SpearMan74** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:58 pm

The thing about longer leads, i thought that the longer they are the crappier the n64 runs. Or am i thinking of two plus inches?

Krepticor · Post by **Krepticor** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:23 pm

nah, you should be fine like what neidlo said just clip and alligator clip on the bottom of the wire, not where your soldering it'll defeat your purpose, flux it on the tips and hit it quick, should get ya covered...

Post by **marshallh** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:28 pm

You'll want to keep the wires as short as possible, since the RDRAM is very high-speed every extra length adds to the interference.

Try using enameled wire (from radioshack). It's copper wire, but coated with either green or red enamel that you can scrape off with a knife. Insulates, is very thin, and doesn't melt.

Master of Portables · Post by **Master of Portables** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:42 pm

or, instead of scraping off the plastic coating, you could use a wire stripper!

Gamerdude · Post by **Gamerdude** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:37 pm

Actually wire strippers don't work to well for this, they cut the whole wire. try fine sandpaper, it works well for this.

try using a heatsink clip on your wire, it is made to contact directlt to the matal so you might have a little problem but it is still better (not a lot) than an alligator clip (actually the same but a little bit bigger). Try using one of these, they do the job good.

SpearMan74 · Post by **SpearMan74** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:37 pm

I used enamal wiring and its about 3/4ths inch long? About that legnth.

I briefly hold a flame under a tip to melt the coating off since it's impossibe to scrap or strip it off.

Aligator clips cant grip the wire i used, the wire is able to plass cleanly through, and if i use stronger ones im afraid it will weaken the wire so that wheni move it around it will break.

So should i just hold metal on the wire to dissipate the heat? Doesn't have to be cooled? I haven't heard of a heatsink clip and i'm weary of buying more stuff.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:43 pm

Just solder faster. Theres not way you're gonna be able to hold a wire thats hot enough to melt solder.
What wattage is your soldering iron?

Gamerdude · Post by **Gamerdude** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:27 pm

SpearMan74 wrote:Should i just hold metal on the wire to dissipate the heat? Doesn't have to be cooled? I haven't heard of a heatsink clip and i'm weary of buying more stuff.

I know I seen one in the pack of soldering tools they sell at radioskack. the pack was only $4 or so. I got mine from there a long time ago.

Master of Portables · Post by **Master of Portables** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:41 pm

Gamerdude wrote:Actually wire strippers don't work to well for this, they cut the whole wire. try fine sandpaper, it works well for this.

try using a heatsink clip on your wire, it is made to contact directlt to the matal so you might have a little problem but it is still better (not a lot) than an alligator clip (actually the same but a little bit bigger). Try using one of these, they do the job good.

are you kidding me, I use wire strippers on enamel wire all the time! just don't grip it as far as the pincers will go, and learn how to spell metal and direct right!