Fitting a New Edge connnector (EDITED 08-June-2021)
By Dezbaz Orig: 08-June-2021, Perform at your own risk.
I have a working ESB board, but the edge connector is so far gone, it's junk . . . .
Unless an edge connector repair can be done.
This is the method I used, as in my opinion there is not a good enough surface to glue copper tracks onto. (The normal standard)
So I have documented the process in case anyone else has a edge connector too far gone also, and wants to repeat this.
Here is the board, with the back to back burnt edge conn. Both sides of the same track are burnt bad.
The back of the board was even worse than the front, which was missing the track completely, as it was separated and burnt bad
I made these little boards up a few years ago to do edge repairs
Next step is to mark where you are scoring the old edge conn. Mine was 7mm from the edge
I marked both sides with a straight edge, and scored with a new knife blade.
You have to score 3 or 4 times on both sides to get deep into the board
Please be careful not to chop off a digit, always cut away from yourself
After scoring carefully, snap off the old conn
Some will say this is the soul of the board right there. Pffft!
After this stage, get a fine file, and carefully square up the board, & remove the edge burrs, ready to go
Clamp the new PCB edge connector in place with some bracing boards to ensure it's aligned and flat.
I used them plastic clamps and some 1/8 strips
Use the clamps to get started, doing a few on each side
Then remove the clamps and braces and solder the rest of the pins
Make a nice bridge across, with no gaps
Join any missing sections using a suitable fine copper wire
Solder mask had to be scraped away to expose track to solder to.
That's it, Inspect for pins shorting and solid bridges
Plug it in and test.
Thanks for reading
Contact the Author of this mod: amazingarcading@iinet.net.au