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Blog [IoT Christmas Sparkle Ball] Trying to Connect  Lights
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  • Author Author: clem57
  • Date Created: 24 Jan 2015 7:05 PM Date Created
  • Views 1428 views
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  • Comments 6 comments
  • iot_holiday_lights
  • iot_holidaylightings
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[IoT Christmas Sparkle Ball] Trying to Connect  Lights

clem57
clem57
24 Jan 2015

Preface:

 

     I was not expecting to soldier the headers on the Infineon shield. So I went out to buy a soldier kit. I even got helping hands with magnifying glass. But I realized that with no skills here I was fighting an uphill battle.Also finding the headers was not expected. I did manage to find a bag of them at frys for $2. Also picked up wire at 24 AWG with a stripper/cutter. After using it a while, I decided 18AWG is better since it had more tensile strength. I scavenged an old power supply having both 5V and 12V with a common GND. Since the plug was to something unique, I used the 18AWG wire with a doubled copper core. Here are the results.

 

First attempt:

 

     When I tried the first time using the helping hands, I discovered they held the board fine, but how to get headers in straight? So here is what happened:

 

image

     When I realized what happened, it was too late. Now I proceeded to learn to de-soldier. When out and bought a wick and a suction tool. Getting back discovered, suction tool with soldiering iron too hard. Tried the wick next and had some success removing soldier. But not enough to remove the header.

 

Second Attempt

 

     Late one night, I decided when all is quiet I can try again. This time I added a tool to hold iron(last time the stand was too hard to hold hot iron and I burned myself). Maybe better prepared means better results. See what I did now:

 

image

 

     Opps! I got so busy I forgot to get right side. Late at night not a good idea. So I conclude I should go to school and have enrolled in an embedded class for MCU's I figure I can find someone to help me work through these issues. Thanks for reading my trials and tribulations on this project. BTW, I will continue to completion even if the contest ends! LOL image

 

PS. The sparkle ball got pushed back due to all the other upfront issues. In a later blog I will share how to build the mirror.

 

 

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  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 10 years ago

    The easiest way to get the connector of may be to cut the black side off,

    and then remove each pin separately,

    by heating up each joint with your iron and pulling the pin with pliers.

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 10 years ago in reply to clem57

    PS I feel not failure here, but positive hope for the next challenge!

    PSS I will continue to blog more as I figure things out.

     

    Thanks guysimageimage

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 10 years ago in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    Thanks for all the kind comments.

     

    1) As @DAB  points out I do need practice and now I have reason to do more.

    2) I did look at some online tutorials, but I overestimated my abilities as we often do. Thanks @Peter Oakes for the links. I will endeavor to get better.

    3)  Had I know about different pin types and trying to do less and not more, I would have followed @Inderpreet Singh advice. But I ended ruining boards that I could not fix. One board was done, but the joints were cold? I attached to Uno and could not get working.

    4) I tried using a replay switch last night with Yun. The switch worked on the 12 volt side but, the digital side never worked. I will ponder this more.

     

    I do appreciate all the encouragement here.

     

    Clem

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  • Robert Peter Oakes
    Robert Peter Oakes over 10 years ago

    may I respectfully ask that you watch these

     

    Dave Jones of the EEVBlog has three superb tutorials on soldering

    Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Sb21qbpEQ#t=24

    Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYz5nIHH0iY

    Part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FC9fAlfQE

     

    Hope it helps

     

    his blog is http://www.eevblog.com/

     

    Peter

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  • DAB
    DAB over 10 years ago

    It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of doing good solder work.

     

    After a few hundred good solder joints it becomes second nature.

     

    DAB

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