Posted by Druin on 4, 2000 at 9:56 PM:
In Reply to: Someone please help!!! Wring/Sldering problem w/joystick posted by purbeast on 4, 2000 at 9:18 PM:
: Hey guys, I am having trouble wiring my joystick. I am not sure, but I think it is because my soldering iron is just not getting not enough. I have a 30 watt iron and when I go to solder the wire to the copper circles inside the playstation controller, it just will not stick. My soldering iron is pretty worn down and probably does not get as hot as it's supposed to, but when I try to solder the wire to the microswitches, I can do it fine. I guess because the switches are bigger than the copper circles and they heat up quicker. Can someone just let me know what the problem is if they know or if it's something that has happened to one of you all before. Also, is 30 watts enough to be doing this project? Should I get a more powerful iron? Just someone please help, I am so close to finishing this project. I have 60/40 rosin core solder, and I hear that is the correct solder to use, so I do not think that is the problem. Someone just please let me know if they know what is the problem. Thanks.
30 watts is more than enough and the solder is fine, and one little thing you said was backwards...the bigger solder area on the microswitches vs the small copper pads...would make the microswitch contacts take longer to heat up, not shorter...but that doesn't apply really here.
I don't know what these particular copper circles you speak of look like in there but one possible reason for it not working would be if it's not actually copper that you found. If it's just a normal part of the circuit board, that would prevent any soldering from working. But solder loves to stick to the copper. The other problem may be the worn down iron tip. You might be having luck with the microswitches because of the larger area making it easier to find a good part of the iron tip to still transfer heat, but on the small copper pads you may just be constantly missing with the iron tip. When mine gets worn down I have to twist the iron around just to find a position that makes contact.
So I recommend replacing the iron tip and it SHOULd work then for sure if it's copper you're hitting. The 30 watts and 60/40 solder are ok.