A few things

TStudiosGandA · Post by **TStudiosGandA** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:28 pm

Hi, I am very new to console modification, and I felt I should understand these terms before I begin to make a portable. Can someone please explain the following:
watt
amp
volt
AC/DC (no, not the band)
capacitor
resistor

I know how to use a soldering iron, and have plenty of solder (not to mention free time). I am getting a mini-snes, and a gamecube intec screen (despite complaints of low picture quality). I have PLENTY of snes controllers, and the two cords required to run an original snes system(AC adapter and RF switch). Are ther other things I should know or get before starting?

Any help is widely appreciated!

Valium · Post by **Valium** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:50 pm

www.wikipedia.org

TStudiosGandA · Post by **TStudiosGandA** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:13 pm

Valium wrote:www.wikipedia.org

Oh yeah... Are there any other terms I should know?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:32 pm

Welcome to the forums.

Flux - used to help solder run more smoothly.
Lead - End of a trace; contact on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
Trace; the embedded contacts/wires on a PCB

For the basics that's really it.

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:18 am

flux is evil! Evil I tell ya!

Don't use it!

nitro2k01 · Post by **nitro2k01** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:21 am

Kyo wrote:flux is evil! Evil I tell ya!

Don't use it!

Huh?
Flux is great if your board has impurities like oxide on the surface. Besides, most solder has a rosin flux core, which is generally a good thing. Flux can leave dirt on the board, but that dirt is dirt that it brought out from the solder. Better have it there so you can wash it away, than inside blob of solder.

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:56 am

the flux in the solder is more than enough. Using too much flux is bad.

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:59 pm

Kyo wrote:the flux in the solder is more than enough. Using too much flux is bad.

Flux is one of the most important things to use in soldering.

It makes it SO much easier to solder and it makes the solder flow better so you get a MUCH better solder joint.

But you are correct that using to much can harm the board and parts.....eventually and maybe , maybe not.

So just use enough to get the solder flowing and clean up when done.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:44 pm

But don't cheap out and get conductive soldering for things like stained glass and piping.

Get a good quality, non-conductive electronics flux. I believe a synonymous term for "non-conductive", with respect to flux, is "No-Clean" or something similar.

TStudiosGandA · Post by **TStudiosGandA** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:05 pm

I plan on using silver solder. Would this be alright?

palmertech · Post by **palmertech** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:11 am

Silcer Solder is made of lots of fail. Get some nice lead solder, it is much better. Unless you live in california, the label says it is know to cause cancer in the state of California. But if you are anywhere else, you are fine.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:58 am

palmertech wrote:Silver Solder is made of lots of fail. Get some nice lead solder, it is much better. Unless you live in california, the label says it is known to cause cancer in the state of California. But if you are anywhere else, you are fine.

Air, water, most foods, and life itself causes cancer in Cali. I'm shocked there are people there who don't have cancer. After all, they all breathe, drink, eat, and are alive (Unless Cali is where the zombies come from).

Silver solder is good for fixing silver jewelry (I use it all the time for such things). Not much else. 60/40 rosin core solder is what I use, and its beautiful. You can pick it up at pretty much any hardware store. The smaller the solder, the better.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:11 am

HBN wrote: 60/40 rosin core solder is what I use, and its beautiful. You can pick it up at pretty much any hardware store. The smaller the solder, the better.

Agreed. 60/40 Rosin core. Then I have a pen that dispenses flux when i need more.

TStudiosGandA · Post by **TStudiosGandA** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:37 pm

HBN wrote:
palmertech wrote:Silver Solder is made of lots of fail. Get some nice lead solder, it is much better. Unless you live in california, the label says it is known to cause cancer in the state of California. But if you are anywhere else, you are fine.
Silver solder is good for fixing silver jewelry (I use it all the time for such things). Not much else. 60/40 rosin core solder is what I use, and its beautiful. You can pick it up at pretty much any hardware store. The smaller the solder, the better.

Thanks for the heads up.
EDIT: Nevermind, turns out I do have a small of rosin core 60/40 solder.
Thank you for the help everyone!

TStudiosGandA · Post by **TStudiosGandA** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:58 pm

I have another question. If I were to modify something that uses two AAA batteries so that you can use 2 AA batteries, the system would have a larger power reservoir, and not overload, because the volt values match (they are both 3)?