Fixing an LCD monitor....

[humble]

Thats exactly what I used to replace the 470 25V's that were stock in my LCD

[noTch]

I really want to send out a great big Thank You  to Humble for 2 things 

1.  For saving me $100+ for a new monitor 

2. For giving me the confidence to fix it    It seems like a millennium since I went through Air Force tech school and did anything 
    with the skills I learned there.

It is also very cool that he posted this about the time, believe it or not, MY Spectre X9 went out   

[humble]

Glad to help, I figured the timing would be right for someone but not expecting anyone to have another X9 however

As a general rule the capacitors closest to the major heat sources will go 1st in any LCD. This is a pretty simple repair and normally worth the hour and few $$$ involved before you contemplate getting a new LCD.

[noTch]

unfortunately my weller tcp has fried which will turn it into a £60 repair job

I got this from Radio Shack about 1 year ago. Never thought I'd have a good use for it till now, & it worked like a charm

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/heat_cold_soldering_set.html
You wouldn't think 4 AA batteries would let you sufficiently solder but it is amazing  & I only paid like $20

[OOZ662]

I have one of those somewhere and haven't had a chance to use it. From what I've read they're nearly useless, generally aren't hot enough, and the tips are extremely finicky and fragile. Interesting.

[humble]

Actually for working on any electronics you want a "low heat" soldering iron if possible.

[OOZ662]

True, but many of the reviews I read said it wouldn't even get to the point of melting the solder.

Not saying noTch is a liar or anything, but I'm intrigued again.

[noTch]

I think that is because of the old 'press down as hard as you can' mentality of the old 'irons'.  This one you actually just barely hold it there till the indicator on top of the iron turns red. Sometimes there is an arc & that is what I used to think was how it worked, but it is all about contact. The solder just helps make contact between the two points.  I love it.  I took me all of 10mins to take out the old caps, & slam the new ones in

[RTHolmes]

nowhere near enough heat is the usual problem with consumer irons, they have enough heat to melt the solder, but then thats not how you solder... my bench iron is ?50w/24vdc and I have a mains 60w/240vac which is great for heatsinks and big jobs

[MrRiplEy[H]]

nowhere near enough heat is the usual problem with consumer irons, they have enough heat to melt the solder, but then thats not how you solder... my bench iron is ?50w/24vdc and I have a mains 60w/240vac which is great for heatsinks and big jobs

Electronics solder differs from soldering ocean liner propellers.

15W and a fine tip is all that's necessary for fine electronics. A good thermostate is far more important than high power. You can burn caps and IC's in a second with a 60W iron.

[RTHolmes]

hehe ive had to do PCB rework with that 60w mains iron occasionally, my colleagues used to call it my welding iron

15W irons are ok for the fine stuff, but only if you are superskilled, superquick and prepared to wait at least 60s between each application. like I said they can melt solder, but thats not what a soldering iron is for. if you want a reliable joint even for the fine stuff, you have to have decent solder and plenty of heat.

[guncrasher]

Cc that rest of us buy new monitor

Semp

[MrRiplEy[H]]

hehe ive had to do PCB rework with that 60w mains iron occasionally, my colleagues used to call it my welding iron

15W irons are ok for the fine stuff, but only if you are superskilled, superquick and prepared to wait at least 60s between each application. like I said they can melt solder, but thats not what a soldering iron is for. if you want a reliable joint even for the fine stuff, you have to have decent solder and plenty of heat.

Don't get me wrong a 60W iron is great if it has a proper thermostat. If someone buys a 60W hobby iron that's designed to melt led etc. stained glass work stuff they will burn up their electronics 100% sure. I use a 60W adjustable temperature soldering station myself (even though I don't do electronics stuff more than once in two years).