SOlDERING LED BULBS

[awg]

Question for all you who have done this. I am trying to replace my LED bulbs on my license plate. I have the bulbs and a soldering gun. Do you take the solder off the backside of the curcuit board and just pull the old bulb out? I have tried this and the only thing I am doing is burning the curcuit board. What am I missing? Thank you.

 

[JimNubs]

Go to Radio Shack and get some copper brad used to suck up solder after it melts. Not sure what they call the product but the sales person will know what you want. You should be using a soldering pencil and very thin solder.

 

[awg]

Makes sense. I am using a old school soldering gun. I will check into this. Thanks!

 

[erldawg]

Yes Radio Shack will have an soldering iron, solder wick, and use plenty of flux!

Tin the iron - place flux on the board where you want to remove solder place the wick over it and heat with the iron. Repeat as needed untill you can pull it out.

You can clean it up with Q-Tips and isopropol alchohol.

If the through hole is not open enough to place the new LED leads through it take a very small drill bit in hand and open it up.

Place the new led in, add flux and solder, cut the leads clean it up and your done..... :2thumbs:

Have a beer!

 

[awg]

Whats the difference between the soldering iron and the wick? Kind of confused on the second step. I do know what the flux is.

 

[narow37]

the wick is what will "soak" up the old solder. radio shack also has a solder suction pen. you heat up the solder and hold the pen right next to the gun and hit the button on the pen/pump and it sucks the solder out of the hole as well. it works better than the wick in my opinion.

 

[awg]

Thanks for all the info. Learned some today.

 

[BigDogBro1]

IF the LED pins are bent over... Add extra solder to the pins and wick it back off so it's somewhat clear of solder...then straighten the LED pins if they are bent over to originally hold the LED in the board during assembly.

THEN -- If the iron TIP is wide enough....

OR if the pins were already straight, and

if the iron TIP is wide enough you can just apply heat to both LED pins at the same time (add extra solder) and when the solder melts, just pull the LED off the board. You can then go back and easily wick out the solder from the empty holes. Apply extra solder to the pads and it will help remove the LED and wick out the holes after the LED is removed.

Too much heat (high wattage iron 40W or more) can cause the PCB pads to pull from the fiberglass board if you leave the soldering iron in contact for too long.

THE LED ONLY GOES IN ON WAY IN ORDER TO WORK. There should be a FLAT cut on the lens that may match to the board silkscreen print to show direction of install.

 

[awg]

UPDATE: All is good. I borrowed a pencil soldering gun with solder and flux. Did what everyone recommended. I was able to remove the old LED and install a new one. Now I should not get stopped because of it. Thanks one and all!

 

[Brew]

It's a pretty simple job if you have the right tools. My wife constaintly reminds of that... Glad that ya got it fixed...:2thumbs:

 

[erldawg]

Yea another satisfied customer !

 

[awg]

The right tools are a must!