3 replies to this topic

[tk3000]

Hello,

I have among other Ataris a  Brazilian unit manufacturer in 1988. Which then uses the PALM video system/format. It is not working, if I insert the cartridge (palm cartridge of course) and it shows noise and static on the screen. I opened the console and it seems that the solder joint and soldering points at the RIOT is failing, apparently the circuit track whereon the solder is suppose to adhere is gone. Below is a pic of the:



Any insight on how to best approach such issue would be appreciated.

[player 0ne]

clean the area alot.  then reflow the points.  maybe cut a piece of leed off an new component or some copper wire and reflow that into the pool.  not enough to reflow onto.  use a small piece of insulated wire and jump the component to another point on the board.  make sure to inspect the whole board for other bad solder joints, poor joints, etc.

[jdrose]

That is the worst solder job I have ever seen. I can't believe the solder fell off the PC board and the pins!

Ground yourself to keep static electricity from the board. Clean all the old flux off the area as gently as you can. Then use a good quality rosin core solder to resolder the pins to the traces on the board. Be as accurate and quick as you can. You don't want the RIOT to get overheated yet you want a good solder connection.

When you are done make sure no solder has flowed to/touched traces and pins it shouldn't.

Edited by jdrose, Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:29 PM.

[tk3000]

Thanks for the all insight on how to address such issue. I planing to install a socket for the RIOT chip (also to avoid damage due to heat transfer). Compared to all the other boards and board revisions that I have seen so far this is by far the worse quality one in terms of quality of construction and assembly, and believe it or not it was made by the only Atari licensees in Brazil, the now defunct Polyvox (that was acquired by another consumer electronics company called Gradient). That board never went through repair, it came with all the soldered jumper wires from factory, and it is also missing the metal shield.

Edited by tk3000, Fri Feb 3, 2012 3:51 PM.