hi...seems like i made a very basic beginner mistake with my kit: soldered all components to the board, switched it on and no lights - checked and re-soldered all poor connections - this time light/full function except for D2...ok, easy fix, just unsolder and replace the bulb with the spare - well not so easy and i made a mess of the connectors and did tear the wire attached to the circular bottom thing - ant suggestions? i'm thinking that i can hard-wire D2 and integrate back into the circuit. will this work and if so, where/how do i make my connections?

many thanks in advance,
jorge

jorget1@mailcan.com

Hi Jorge,
The only real "beginner mistake" in that process was to assume that the non-working LED is because the component itself was bad. That's actually unlikely, and it's much more likely that there was still a problematic solder joint somewhere. Desoldering, especially on a single-sided board, is tricky. The pads and traces will not come off unless you apply a more-than-excessive amount of heat-- for example holding the iron in place for ten seconds. (Normal soldering with a maximum of one or two seconds at a joint is pretty forgiving.)

Repair is certainly possible. Now, there are two traces (wires printed on the circuit board) attached to each LED. To put the LED back in place, you'll need to reconnect it to both of those locations, and you may need to use glue (e.g., epoxy) to hold the LED in place physically. So, how much of the wire came up, and was it on both connections to the LED? It might be easiest if you can post and link to a picture.

(If you would rather just start over, please contact us through the web store-- we may be able to give you a discount on a replacement kit.)

thanks windell both for your expertise and for your replacement offer: my first option would be to repair not because of the additional expense of a new kit, but because i find the soldering a bit stressful (vision and dexterity not what they used to be); i will get you a pix next posting but it looks like both "pads" - square and circular things? - are attached to the legs of the LED, and a small piece of the "trace" - flat wire? - is attached to the circular pad. i can also see where this trace has become free of the board itself for about a fraction of an inch...

thanks again, and can i attach a pix to a posting?

jorge

You should be able to place a small picture (up to 512 pixels across). If not, please e-mail it to me directly.

went off-board to correspond with windell and with his help successfully resolved the issue - thanked him privately there and thought a public thanks here was appropriate - many thanks!

happy holidays,
jorge