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GreggK
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008
Posts: 1021
Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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 Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 3:43 pm Post subject: Printed circuit repair.... |
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Hello All, While trouble shooting an electrical problem I seem to have melted a path way on my printed circuit. Im not sure how I did it but a small section on my circuit is melted. Its down by the clock area and less than an 1/8th of an inch long.
Is there any way to repair that or should I just start searching for a new one. The damage has seemed to make my coolant level and oil pressure lights stop working. Also my turn signal indicator light. The instrument lights and high beam indicator still work. Not really sure about the rest since I was trouble shooting an non working tach and ALT light.
I know go-westy sells a replacement for the printed circuit but Im running a Subaru conversion and not sure if they work together. An feedback is appreciated. Thanks GreggK |
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SteveVanB
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008
Posts: 1645
Location: This side of Daytona
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GreggK
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008
Posts: 1021
Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Steve, Ill give them a call tomorrow. That kit may be the answer. Ill also check out the Radio Shack pen. Thanks for the help, GreggK |
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Dampcamper
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013
Posts: 789
Location: Rainy Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 4:11 pm Post subject: Know anybody who does stained glass? |
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| One technique in stained glass involves a strip of copper foil, adhesive on one side. I have used this foil to repair rigid circuit boards. Particularly where you solder it to the existing foil it will be stiff and not flex so plan accordingly on your flex board. It might be better to solder a small stranded wire near each end of the trace to keep it from breaking, this way the wire will flex and not bind the board. |
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igarrett
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2015
Posts: 15
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Printed circuit repair.... |
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GreggK
Did that repair kit work?
I have a 85 weekender whose circuit board is slightly torn enough that two of the lights don't work. |
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Synthead
Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2015
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: Printed circuit repair.... |
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Melted? Like, melted copper? If that's the case, the melted copper is probably the result of some other problem, not the problem itself!
Here's what I'd do. Scrape about 5mm of varnish off on either side of this trace, then put an ammeter on it. Set it to the 10A mode for starters. Try turning everything on. You should see a reading on the meter. Is it super high or something? We'll have to rough it because I have no idea what trace we're talking about... so let's say anything more than about 0.5 A (500 mA) is kinda high for one of those traces.
If it looks ok, I would then put a little flux on both the bare spots and bridge it with some solder. Done. |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4852
Location: Kaneohe
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tates1882
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2012
Posts: 279
Location: Southwest Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Printed circuit repair.... |
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| GreggK wrote: |
Hello All, While trouble shooting an electrical problem I seem to have melted a path way on my printed circuit. Im not sure how I did it but a small section on my circuit is melted. Its down by the clock area and less than an 1/8th of an inch long.
Is there any way to repair that or should I just start searching for a new one. The damage has seemed to make my coolant level and oil pressure lights stop working. Also my turn signal indicator light. The instrument lights and high beam indicator still work. Not really sure about the rest since I was trouble shooting an non working tach and ALT light.
I know go-westy sells a replacement for the printed circuit but Im running a Subaru conversion and not sure if they work together. An feedback is appreciated. Thanks GreggK |
Get the kit from vanagon.com. His kit is grade A and super simple to use. I have a 2.2 subie in an 88 gl and it worked like a champ. Took me about 20 mins to install.
_________________
88 Vanaru, ej22, naht |
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Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2407
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Printed circuit repair.... |
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I’ve had success repairing the traces with the “ColdHeat Resistance Device”: http://coldheat.com
It works by heating the metal wire and not the solder. You still need to be quick and careful but definitely makes it doable. Read more here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=610274
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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Ace
Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2003
Posts: 1903
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Printed circuit repair.... |
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| Point to point Teflon jacketed wire soldered jumper. Ohm both sides first to make sure there is no direct short to ground. How wide is the trace? |
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