Soldering micro USB contacts.

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

My phone (a "Ulefone" Gemini) was charging only intermittently, then not ay all (yesterday). So, I got the back off, which was not very easy, as they're not supposed to be taken apart by users (Ha! A direct challenge!), and I saw that the five contacts on the USB socket were flapping about in the breeze; they should be soldered down. A give-away should have been that the "tongue" in the port was loose.

Anyway, I had a go with my 25W spade-bit, and it's working again, but I don't trust the soldering, as the joints are too small to see easily.

Is there an easy way to fix such things? The Internet shows people with expensive magnifying kit and special hot air blowers and suchlike. It would be cheaper to buy a new board than that! However, I do like fixing things....

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Get another phone and zoom in on the contacts you have soldered. You'll be able to see how good (or bad) the solder joints are.
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woo · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

get a new different phone

may look all fine but one day when charging it may catch fire, not worth the heat in my opinion lol!
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The Artist · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Karma :

Unlikely to be a fire. It the joint gets hot, it will just melt most likely.

Small SM components are normally soldered using one of many methods that don't involve a hand held soldering iron but it can be done, it just won't be easy or reliable.

You would probably need a pointed tip but hard to say without pics.

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

I've done similar crude but effective bodges but at least I used a 1mm tapered tip and wick.
Now I use a SMD hot air station and solder paste, it's not in daily use
but very handy to have at times.
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WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

The 'phone still charges. Looking at it through a 60x "pocket microscope" shows it looks OK, no bridging, but just in case the solder's weak I have ordered a new board via "Aliexpress". In fact, I've ordered two, from different suppliers, to see which courier wins (and just in case one's wrong!).

If both boards are correct, I'll sell the other on and keep the repaired one as a spare JIC.

dydey90 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2013 Karma :

The phone is £80 new, this seems like a lot of work to be going through.
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WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

So I spend £7.60 for two cards and have my 'phone working again, and have a bit of fun, instead of spending £80 on a "new" one with an outdated Android version. Sounds like a good deal to me.

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

Excellent! Ordered from AliExpress standard delivery 16/Jun, arrived 25th. Fitted & working! Not sure all deliveries will be that fast, though, the other one hasn't arrived & AliExpress standard delivery is said to be 20-40 days...