You can desolder pins by using a desoldering pump where the desoldering pump swallows the molten solder. Desolder the connections where electronic components are connected to the circuit board to salvage or replace them.
Using a desoldering pump is one of the most pleasant ways to desolder a component. A desoldering pump is simply a high-pressure vacuum pump with a compact size. You may use the desoldering pump to suction the solder up and out of the way once it has been heated.
How To Desolder Pins
There are several ways to desolder pins. Such as using soldering iron, desoldering braid, desoldering pump, heat gun, compressed air, etc to desolder pins. If you have a desoldering pump (also called a solder sucker), the process gets easier. Here is how you can separate the components from a circuit board using a desoldering pump.
Step 1
Find the terminals of the component to be removed. A solder sucker, also known as a desoldering pump, vacuums up molten solder to detach soldered components from a circuit board. Examine both sides of the board thoroughly to identify the particular locations that keep each component in place.
The desoldering pump is most effective with through-hole connections. It may also be used on surface-mounted devices, but it is less effective. Having said that, it is one of the more affordable solutions.
Step 2
Clear out the terminals. Gently clean the terminals of the components to be removed using isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush. Make sure you just clean the terminals on the soldered side of the board and not the component side.
Step 3
Connect a heat sink. The soldering iron’s heat might harm delicate components like integrated circuits or transistors. Clip a metal alligator clip between the component and the terminal you intend to desolder to disperse some of the heat.
Step 4
As your soldering iron is heated, clean it. Turn on your soldering iron and wait three minutes for it to heat up. To clean your soldering iron, use a moist sponge to make fast passes from the base to the tip. You may notice a small amount of smoke as you pass the sponge, but this is due to the moisture in the sponge.
Step 5
Push the pump’s end until it snaps into place. This compresses a spring, causing it to latch in the depressed position. With your soldering iron, heat the old solder. Heat the old solder with the tip of your soldering iron until it melts. As the old solder melts, you may press the terminal with the soldering iron tip at the same time to help liberate the component.
If you have an old soldering iron, use it since pressing with the iron might wear it down.
Step 6
The molten solder should be vacuumed up. Without applying pressure, place the desoldering pump tip on the solder pad and melted the solder. When the spring is released, the piston returns swiftly. This generates a vacuum that draws the molten solder into the pump.
During operation, the pump’s tip may melt somewhat. Most pumps have replaceable tips or are inexpensive, to begin with, but you may try to minimize damage by stopping for a few seconds after melting the solder. Melted solder can harden fast again. Only use one terminal at a time.
Step 7
Remove the desoldering pump and throw it away. Push the pump down over a garbage can after each usage to re-arm it and empty it away from the solder. If the old solder is left within, it may seep out when you vacuum the next terminal.
Step 8
Troubleshoot problematic connections. It is common for numerous passes with the soldering iron and pump to be required before the component comes free. If you haven’t made any progress after a few attempts, try any or all of the following modifications:
Apply flux first to aid the flow of the molten solder. Melt a little amount of fresh solder to combine with the old, hardened solder. For through-hole connections, gently wriggle the terminal from side to side with the tip of the soldering iron. This breaks the connection to the hole’s sidewalls.
Step 9
Clear the table. Because brown resin can melt when heated, you may find it sticking around the solder pad. You can remove it using a professional resin cleaner or by carefully scraping it away with a tiny, flat-head screwdriver or steel wool. Finish by washing the area with an isopropyl alcohol-dampened toothbrush.
The pressure from the iron or pump may cause the solder pad to slip somewhat. As long as the traces connecting the pad to the other components are still intact, it should still operate. If the traces are damaged, you must solder new ones on. If there are still remnants of solder on the pad, a desoldering braid, as detailed below, can easily take them up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you desolder a large connector?
You’d wrap some Kapton tape or aluminum foil over the connector’s plastic and apply paste or molten flux all around it, then come back with the hot air gun to desolder it.
Conclusion
When you desolder the pins, by unintentionally separating the board layers during the desoldering process, you can quickly destroy a circuit board. Make certain that you simply desolder the pins required to remove a defective component.
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