My Dongle Locks up Vixen

[RJ]

Maybe LED #3 was put in backwards

Rick R.

(I have done that before )

Rick is making a good point. It will do this if the LED is backwards as it is a diode.

RJ

[Rainlover]

Larry and Keith and Rick,
Thanks for the replies.
Is there a way to test an led? Can I use a 9v battery? I am 99% positive that the led is in correctly. I double checked all of them before I soldered, but it is a possibility. If the led was in backwards, would that keep power from getting to the channel?
I will check the pins on the pic and make sure I have continuity on all the pins.

John

[Rainlover]

Well....
I tried to remove the led to replace it and gave up after about an hour. I tried solder wick, a solder sucker and no joy.
Oh well, this controller will only have 15 channels.
Good news on LE number 2. Finished it today and everything works great.
I think I an the fine line between passionate about this hobby and obsessed with it.

John

[lineman]

Well....
I tried to remove the led to replace it and gave up after about an hour. I tried solder wick, a solder sucker and no joy.
Oh well, this controller will only have 15 channels.
Good news on LE number 2. Finished it today and everything works great.
I think I an the fine line between passionate about this hobby and obsessed with it.

John

I had to desolder a led also ( which i agree real hard for this noob ) What I did was cut led off then held wire as i desoldered came right out bad part destroyed LED no big deal just replace. Hope this helps

[RJ]

Well....
I tried to remove the led to replace it and gave up after about an hour. I tried solder wick, a solder sucker and no joy.
Oh well, this controller will only have 15 channels.
Good news on LE number 2. Finished it today and everything works great.
I think I an the fine line between passionate about this hobby and obsessed with it.

John

You can not save the led so set your soldering iron up a good deal hotter than you normal solder with. Lay it sides ways across both leads and put a bunch of solder on the leads as in a bad job soldering tons of solder. Once you get it that way wait 3 seconds and pull easy with needle nose pliers it should slide out easy. Do not pull with any force or you will pull traces. this will get it out. Now with it out cut off the used part of the solder wick and put it on the glob of solder with you iron tip clean and still really hot  then add a tiny bit of solder like you are solding the wick to the board. As soon as that tiny bit of solder starts to melt into the wick stop adding sodler and it will pull the other solder up. Then will it is still hot take the solder wick away. Now it is clean ready for a new led.

RJ

[Rainlover]

RJ and Jeff
Thanks for the suggestions.
I will try to desolder it again when I get a chance.
When I get it out, can I pick one up at Radio Shack.?

John

[RJ]

RJ and Jeff
Thanks for the suggestions.
I will try to desolder it again when I get a chance.
When I get it out, can I pick one up at Radio Shack.?

John

I doubt any of radio shacks are low current high efficent leds and the pic is limited inits drive current so I would say you might not want to risk having to desolder another one. Send me a address in pm with a not to send you an led and I can send you one in the mail.

RJ