garmin connector busted

[millard]

this is the wee usb thingy connector from the back of me Garmin 2610

it's busted off it's PCB mounting

I've looked around but can't find a replacement from Maplins or RS Components.
Any idea if this is a purely Garmin part? if so, anyone got an old shagged out/knackered garmin lying about please?
Happy to chuck a coupla quid your way if it's really cheap.
Thanks
millard

 

[roddy]

could you not solder it back on.

clean the contacts up gently with some emery paper on both board and socket and using a long tipped iron get the heat into the contacts and let the solder get 'sucked' into the correct position.

Worth a try it's broke anyway

 

[millard]

thought about it briefly Roddy, but the bank of 5 contacts are very close together, only about 3mm across. I reckon the solder would just flow across them.
Also though about soldering the case back to the baord so the contacts are being held by spring pressure, but think the vibration of the bike might bugger it. If I can't get a replacement I'll heat up the iron and have a wee go at it but am not too hopeful.
Cheers
millard

 

[DrFarkoff]

Did you contact Garmin???

I believe their support is good a friend of mine had an old Garmin V and bent a contact they replaced it for him!

One Unbuggered Garmin Happy Days

 

[Womble]

It might work if you get the whole assembly hot enough to melt the solder and then it'll all stick back together again. These things are manufactured by bunging them in a big oven to melt solder which has been applied as a paste.

Try holding it lightly together with a pair of pliers and heating it with a hot air gun until the solder melts, then capillary action should do the rest.

 

[millard]

Did you contact Garmin???

I believe their support is good a friend of mine had an old Garmin V and bent a contact they replaced it for him!

One Unbuggered Garmin Happy Days

garmin were great about sorting out my unlock code problem. The unit came with the bike when I bought it about 3 weeks back and had V7 and no code. They sent me V9 with code free of charge.
However they have no spares for it and would charge £100+ for a repair which would basically be a replacement unit.

It might work if you get the whole assembly hot enough to melt the solder and then it'll all stick back together again. These things are manufactured by bunging them in a big oven to melt solder which has been applied as a paste.

Try holding it lightly together with a pair of pliers and heating it with a hot air gun until the solder melts, then capillary action should do the rest.

I'll have to try something if I can't get a replacement but like i said I ain't too hopefull about successfully soldering it together again.


Millard

 

[roddy]

As long as you clean the contacts so the solder can flow and your soldering iron is hot enough and has a fine tip, then as Womble has said capillary action will do the rest just remember to also use fine solder wire as well.

you won't need a lot of it your be surprised at how easy it can be done, just take your time if you don't solder regulary it would be good if you have any old knackered electircal kit about to practise on that first

 

[cookie]

i reckon you'll need a proper pro soldering iron.

 

[Womble]

That's why I suggested using hot air - for a fix like this, I think it's more likely to do the job.

All the surface mount rework kit for repairing modern electronics uses hot air as well, although it's carefully directed to make sure that it only heats the proper area, but a mate has performed successful surgery on an old Xbox with a hot air gun, so I'm sure it's possible.

I'd start with the back of the connector first, where there's just one big area of solder, and then sort the pins on the other side which should then be held in place by the solder at the rear.

 

[Droopy Dick]

this is the wee usb thingy connector from the back of me Garmin 2610

it's busted off it's PCB mounting

I've looked around but can't find a replacement from Maplins or RS Components.
Any idea if this is a purely Garmin part? if so, anyone got an old shagged out/knackered garmin lying about please?
Happy to chuck a coupla quid your way if it's really cheap.
Thanks
millard

Hey ho fella.

It's just possible that I could point you in the direction a very nice man who designs and builds complex electronic stuff.

He's a wizard at remounting parts on PCBs.

Chris

 

[millard]

Cheers Chris, got details please?
My RoSPA ride wi Peter has been cancelled tomorrow, so I'm tempted to have a go myself in the morning, but don't hold out much hope.
cheers
Millard

 

[Daithi]

I'm fairly sure the same thing happened to one of our Moderator, if it's a manufacturing fault, and it seems
to be, I'd bung it in a box and send it off to Gramin with an explanation, worst that will happen is they'll
send it back to ya.

or

Fine tipped soldering iron and some patience.

 

[millard]

that's a thought, cheers Daithi.

 

[Engineer]

I have the correct tools at work for exactly this sort of job - as long as the pads on the pcb are not damaged it will be pretty straight forward for me to fix it for you. PM me if you want me to take a look at it for you.

 

[millard]

PM'd you Engineer, cheers
millard

 

[wessie]

I have the correct tools at work for exactly this sort of job - as long as the pads on the pcb are not damaged it will be pretty straight forward for me to fix it for you. PM me if you want me to take a look at it for you.

Oh, goodoh. I was going to post that someone with the right tools would repair that connection fairly easily, subject to the caveat you mention.

Unfortunately, the tools I would've used to make such a repair were shipped to Hungary, with my job.

 

[Droopy Dick]

Cheers Chris, got details please?
My RoSPA ride wi Peter has been cancelled tomorrow, so I'm tempted to have a go myself in the morning, but don't hold out much hope.
cheers
Millard

If this means you didn't get out on Sunday morning then you perhaps did yourself a favour. The rain wasn't so much the issue, but the strong winds might have been.

I'd 'booked' to go out with the Thames Valley RoSPA guys but my youngest dropped me into driving the minbus full of squalling teens to a swimming match.

If you haven't got it sorted by now try a PM to me.

Chris

 

[millard]

Cheers Chris, and everyone else who offered advice.

Will ("Engineer") is gonna have a go at it for me this week.

Yeah late morning we got a bit of a squall here in Hamble, the wind AND rain were of biblical proportions for about ten minutes. I was actually glad the missus had me chained to the kitchen sink peelin the spuds instead of being out an about.

 

[millard]

Big thanks to ENGINEER (Will)

who volunteered to fix my busted Garmin connector.
True to his word it arrived back home this morning after he did his electronic wizardry and it's working perfectly.

We've never met, probably never will meet, but he helped me out because I was stuck, and he could.

This is what forums like this are all about.

Thanks Will, very much indeed.

millard

 

[GSmonkey]

Nice one Engineer