Looking for help!

[fortean101]

I am trying to build an e1e triple and need some help I need to reflow some xpg LEDs to a triple board, I do not have the equipment to do this nor the skill. I have looked on the Internet and have seen methods but all I have is a 40w soldering iron and bad solder! Are you a u.k based modder who can reflow LEDs? If so I need your help!

Any other advice great fully accepted.

Edit, it looks like this is probably in the wrong section....

 

[Tiresius]

Got a CPU heatsink the size of 4-inch wide? If so, it should be simple to do because that's what I used. Simply snip very small pieces of solder and place them on the mpcb soldering pad for the emitter. A little flux will help keep things in place. Just a tiny bit. Place the emitter over it and sit that mpcb board over the flat part of the CPU heatsink.

Now, if you're cheap, sit this on the stove at a low temperature so you won't cook the fiber glass layer of the mpcb. What I use is a 2-stage heatgun set at the manufacturer's melting point of the solder. Just heat the CPU heatsink and it'll transfer heat onto the mpcb. Eventually the solder will melt and the emitter will center itself. Once done, take a forcep or plier to pull the work out after you've ceased the heating process.

 

[fortean101]

That's a new method I have not seen, thanks for the detailed instructions. Our stove is gas presume a frying pan would work also? Still looking for offers also.

 

[Norm]

looks like this is probably in the wrong section....

Moved - Norm

 

[fortean101]

An update. Yes I am cheap! I used a lighter to reflow the first led which went well, it snapped into place, in my triumph I went on to the second, soldered the pads okay then put the led on to be reflowed and..... Warmed the board to much the printing came off and the dome came off the led! So scratch one board and one led! The other led is probably knackered as well! So triumph quickly turns to embarrassment! If anyone can help let me know I have a spare parallel board but only one unused led and a suspect one. Reason why I used the parallel board is it only requires two wires to it.

:( :( :(

 

[ianfield]

That's a new method I have not seen, thanks for the detailed instructions. Our stove is gas presume a frying pan would work also? Still looking for offers also.

If you don't have a suitable hotplate for the CPU heatsink method - you might get away with heating the heatsink with a modeler's pencil blowtorch.

It might also be useful to smear the PCB & heatsink with heatsink compound or silicone grease, the PCB will be up to temperature quicker & more evenly - it also stops the PCB sliding off the heatsink and falling on the floor when you move it.