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Old 01-12-2012, 12:23 PM   #175
572HP
ACE5 (Atlanta Group)
 
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Suwanee, GA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harrycamaro View Post
Okay thanks everyone! Yeah youtube seemed like a good place to look. I don't imagine it being too hard. I will probably try to do this sometime in the near future then, maybe a slow weekend at school.
You'll just want a low wattage solder iron. I found that a screwdriver-shaped tip works well for getting the old LEDs off. Just don't leave the iron on the part or board for more than a few seconds at a time to avoid overheating. I also use a multi-meter that has a diode/continuity tester built in. When testing these small LEDs, they will light up dimly when you have the polarity correct. That is how I always checked them. Also get more LEDs than you plan to use. The parts are pretty inexpensive compared to shipping and waiting. You may break/burn a few if you are new to it. Also, a good pair of tweezers is a must. Especially with the 0805s. Oh, and if your eyesight isn't the best with very small stuff, the magnifying head visor is a plus.
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