Re-soldering connections to factory boards

[mjaskula]

I have a broken phase 90 that I'm trying to fix. I have two wires to re-solder. One is to a jack, that's fine. The other is to the circuit board. the connection is on the back of the board, non component side. and it looks like it hits resistors first, but it may be close enough to the ICs to affect them.

Can I cause any damage to the ICs by re-soldering? How can I prevent this?

Should I first remove the old solder with a de-soldering braid, then re-solder the connection? Or will I risk disconnecting components from the board? Should I leave as much old solder as I can?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Fret Wire]

You won't cause any damage to the IC's by re-soldering any wires. When you are soldering/desoldering IC's, yes you can heat damage them if you aren't quick with the iron. Sockets help prevent this.  Burning the board and/or lifting the traces are concerns when resoldering. re/de-soldering is just like soldering: don't use any more heat than you have too, for any longer than you have too. No, you don't want any of the old solder left. Too easy to get a bad joint.

Use de-soldering braid to remove old joints/components. Better yet, use a solder-sucker. RS carries them cheap enough, and they for make cleaner work. More importantly, I feel they allow you to desolder faster with less chance for heat damage.

[Fret Wire]

Almost forgot...if you're using a low quality soldering iron and poor solder, it'll make work alot harder, and increase you chances for heat damage. Get a decent temp controlled iron and use 63/37 solder (even RS has it), and your confidence will go way up. Good tip prep/cleaning habits are also must. With junk irons, your tip is on the work, you're waiting, sweating, and it seems like forever before the joint solders/desolders.

When a new pedal doesn't work, many times the problem comes back to connection, or other soldering problem such as touching traces. So good soldering technique is a basic fundamental that prevents problems down the road.  Here's a few links so you can check out pumps and stations. BTW, if you order $50 or more from CC, you get a nice DMM free.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/6262

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/2826

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/6438