storminstang06 Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 I had 2 controllers which needed a new cat5 port. I had trouble getting all the solder out on both and also had 2 pins break off and were 'stuck' in one of the controllers. After several people tried various ways to desolder and open the holes, we finally got them open by using a heat gun and heating small screwdriver type punch tools. One controller's new port is working and the other is not. The nonworking port is the one that had the pins stuck in it. After soldering the new port in 3 times and it still didn't work I found that 2 of the green board connections (top 2nd and 4th from left, looking at the underside of the board) have been partially stripped. This is definitely not anything I can fix, but I wondered if anyone may know how to do it or if LOR can fix this. The board itself still functions and I'm still going to use it since I do have 1 cat5 and the other smaller port to daisy chain. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atver Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 LOR might be able to repair it by bridging a small wire from the circuit trace if that is broken to the connector. It's not a easy fix if I'm reading your condition correctly. I used to do this type of repair when working in electronic manufacturing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storminstang06 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Thank you for your reply. I don't think this will be an easy fix either. I had to use this board to finish setting up, it just has to be at the end of the chain. I will contact LOR about it, but it might have to wait until take-down day. I don't really want to have to dive into the rat's nest of wires since I've already done it twice in the last few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a31ford Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 IF LOR can't do the repair (or it's simply not done by them). There IS a trick to re-working a damaged board. the entire board will have to be out of the box, with all cables removed. (the heatsinks can stay on the board). the dead connector if the traces are on the component side it will be real tough, IF the traces are on the back side it's easier.. get some 22 ga. wire (sometimes one can use a strand out of a larger stranded wire (just ONE strand out of that larger wire), about the thickness of a hair or so). An "exacto knife" with a curved blade, carefully scrape the coating away from the bad trace a bit farther back from the solder pad (or behind the break), with the connector or component in place, use a set of tweezers to hold the strand and wrap one end of it on the component, and "lay out" the other end over the fresh copper where you scraped the coating away from that trace (you do NOT want to uncover others, ONLY the one in question) (this is the reason for the curved blade, you can be selective of what you uncover). Tin the trace in question and lay the strand onto it, and solder. confirm operation of said fix. to hold everything in place AFTER you know it works.... use epoxy or hot glue to cover and protect your fix. it's NOT easy, find an old junk radio or scrap board to test your skills on BEFORE you attempt the controller..... use a low wattage iron (Pencil iron) , NOT A GUN. Practice, practice, practice Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a31ford Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 If worse comes to worse, one can use a small wire (radio shack 22 ga "hook up" wire) leave the insulation on, find the other end of the bad trace (where does it go to, the other end of that trace, use the insulated wire to make a new trace, expose ONLY the 2 ends of the wire, solder one end to the connector pin in question, the other end to the spot where the trace went to. (you are making an "off board trace") CONFIRM that it works correctly, epoxy or hot glue your new wire to the board. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storminstang06 Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 I really appreciate your suggestions. I haven't been online much so I didn't see your posts until today. I have not done anything with my controllers yet. One board is being used in the display and the other is awaiting my decision to attempt to repair or to contact LOR. This may become a snow day project. I will have to decide after practicing on something Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 You could also put one of these......inside the case, connected with a short jumper to the working jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I believe they also make one that has a single male that goes to a dual female. Though what Steven's has an advantage of is that it will not add to the chance that the connector on the board will be damaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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