LED Light Charge Port Replacement
If you’re like me, you look for every opportunity to pretend that every light you hold is a lightsaber. So, when I had a repair to do on a workshop LED light, I couldn’t help myself, I had to make those noises and pretend that I had Jedi skills. But, when I got that out of my system, I was able to settle down to the task at hand.
This LED light has been used for a number of years in my automotive workshop and is invaluable to me carrying out my daily tasks. Each night I would connect it to a charging jack, the little red light would come on and in the morning it would be green, indicating that the battery had changed overnight. However, I had noticed that the connection into the port had become a little loose and would require a little wiggle to get the charging light to come on. I tried closing the port a little to add pressure on the connection, but this only lasted for a short time.
The LED light sat on my lab bench for some time until I purchased the correct port to install. Disassembly of the light was easy as only 3 screws held on the back cover.
The port design is a USB Micro B with 4 90˚ anchor points.
As a hobbyist, I am always learning, trying new techniques & buying new equipment (just don’t tell my wife 😉). I have always done soldering using an iron & solder. Some time ago I purchased some solder paste and up until now, had forgotten I had it.
One of the major problems I was having was access to the port. It was right next to the main switch with a few other components close by, therefore not allowing a soldering iron to carry out the task. I decided to use a heat gun, which I have used on a number of occasions replacing SMD ICs. I thought this would be easy, but I was trying new techniques using new products as well. After carrying out the repair, I noticed the instructions on the solder paste stated that it had a shelf life of 6 months and must be kept in the fridge……..unfortunately, that was a big NO in each case.
I now realize that I made several mistakes replacing this port but will learn for next time. Firstly, while trying to remove the port, I didn’t realize that there were 4 anchor points & focused on only 2 points. I ended up using my desoldering station to remove the anchor points – a ST-2091 for those of you who are curious.
Secondly, I levered on the port and accidentally tore of part of the track. So far, things didn’t seem to be going so well. But all was not lost! I carefully made up a wire to join the broken section of the track and removed some of the mask so that the solder would adhere to the circuit board.
With that little problem out of the road, I now focused on the reason for the repair. Careful placement of the port was next with some solder paste. As I said, the solder paste had not been stored as intended, so it took some time to heat correctly, but eventually the paste melted and formed a good bond.
After confirming the continuity of the connections of the port, it was now put on charge and the little green LED was proof that the repair was successful.
If you are interested in this repair, you can see a video on my channel following the link below :
This article was prepared for you by Mark Rabone from Australia.
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Note: You can check out his previous repair article on Building A Monitor Soundbar (DIY Project With Video)
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Parasuraman S
March 3, 2022 at 9:02 pm
Vow! I thoroughly enjoyed your article and laughed my guts out when I read your request not to tell your wife! Matches very well with the scenes in my house. I manage to smuggle things into my service room whenever I bought a new item. So far I have been lucky! When will I be caught red handed is something I always avoid to think! (LOL)
Mark
March 4, 2022 at 10:26 am
Thanks Parasuraman,
It takes years of experience to master the ninja skills required to sneak a new piece of equipment past your wife. Personally, I think my wife just turns a blind eye now because she knows new toys, sorry tools, make my job easier or just more fun!
Parasuraman S
March 4, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ninja tricks! There you go again! Ha! Ha! Ha! At times, she used to visit my service room and ask amusing questions about things lying around and under use! Well, so I know that she pretends not knowing what I have been doing, rather a silent sanction. Probably like you said, she might have understood how important these are for me in my work! They buy and use various things for the kitchen that suit their profession, are they not? (LOL)
Albert van Bemmelen
March 3, 2022 at 9:34 pm
I didn't know about storing the solder paste in the fridge. But already store all my super- and other glues in the door of my fridge. So good to know! I have some solder paste too but never used it yet since I always was able to place those microSD connectors with normal solder and the use of my heat gun. like I did when I made those Jim Williams based fast avalaunche high voltage rise pulse generators to be able to test the bandwidth of any oscilloscope.
Mark
March 4, 2022 at 10:30 am
Hey Albert,
You know when you buy something new and think you'll get to use it one day & then you finally read the instructions? That's what happened. It was written on the side of the syringe. So, yes this batch was years old and not stored in the fridge at all, so I guess it's my fault and lesson learned.
I usually use solder, as you do, but saw this and thought it would be a good alternative.
I'll let you know how I go next time when I store the next batch correctly.
Parasuraman S
March 4, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Storing such chemicals inside a fridge is not advisable if you are using the same fridge for storing food items. If at all you have to, put it in a self sealing cover and store it.
Imoudu Onwumah
March 3, 2022 at 11:43 pm
Mr Parasuraman, you make me laugh,These sceneries about wife is common in most homes.
Thanks Mark for sharing.
Mark
March 4, 2022 at 10:31 am
Thanks Imoudu,
I think we have all attempted to sneak some new piece of equipment past our wives - some are just better at it than others!
Robert Samuel
March 4, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Encouraging repair effort. But even more entertaining were the "wife" comments. Don't underestimate her. I think that most times, the wife just pretends not to see !! Ha Ha Ha.
Mark
March 8, 2022 at 8:16 am
Hey Robert,
You are right. I have a very understanding wife who comprehends my obsessions. I think she looks the other way when she walks past my lab.....
Yogesh Panchal
March 4, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Mark,
You have exposed pain in everyone here including me.
some are succeeded & some are Caught & those explanations after caught..................poor guys.
Mark i think instead of keeping this toxic things (some chemicals deposit invisible toxic vapor /fumes) with food,it is better to have small fridge for this type of separate storage.
Mark
March 8, 2022 at 8:21 am
Thanks Yogesh,
Good suggestion about the solder paste.
I think when we buy new toys, it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.......unless you ask my wife!
Yogesh Panchal
March 4, 2022 at 6:49 pm
One more thing Mark while repairing lifted trace pad use UV Solder mask it will fix the pad on PCB & it will not ripped out again while soldering.
Waleed Rishmawi
March 4, 2022 at 6:55 pm
thanks for sharing the repair success. I have a solder paste in my shop but I never heard that it reguired to be put in the fridge or has a life span. flux and soldering paste sitting outside in the shop and so far i had them for more than a year and so far I am using them alot. yes, it becaomes hard as you go but with a little bit of heat once added on the soldering joints it will melt again.have a blessed day
Mark
March 8, 2022 at 8:23 am
Thanks Waleed,
I'll keep that in mind.
I had heaps of trouble trying to squeeze it out of the syringe.
Mark
March 8, 2022 at 8:17 am
Hey Robert,
You are right. I have a very understanding wife who comprehends my obsessions. I think she looks the other way when she walks past my lab.....