OK-
I've had this Bob Roberts kit for about a year and a Spy Hunter and a Tron in need of a power supply.
I attacked it tonight (phase I) and had the most trouble. The difficulty was in removing the transistors attached to the large heat sink. The two leads to the TO-3 transistors are connected to solder pads on BOTH sides of the board, and one of the sides is UNDERNEATH the large heat sink.
I wound up tearing up a trace and lifting two pads that don't connect to anything. I resorted to mechanically flexing one of the transistors to break away the leads to allow me to remove the heat sink. Then I was able to clean the holes without the heat sink in the way.
Is there a better way?
I don't really see how I'm going to be able to put this back together. There are some blind traces under the heat sink that have to have a lead soldered to them. I can resort to using a socket or running a wire lead on the non-parts side back to where the transistor connects.
That'll make it look pretty hacked though.
Any good hints? The design doesn't lead to any ease in replacing these transistors. I was trying to pry up on the transistors while applying enough to heat to melt the solder on the side under the heat sink.
Thanks for any clues.
K
Maybe I'll ask Bob Roberts- he says he's done HUNDREDS of these- NO, THOUSANDS...
I've had this Bob Roberts kit for about a year and a Spy Hunter and a Tron in need of a power supply.
I attacked it tonight (phase I) and had the most trouble. The difficulty was in removing the transistors attached to the large heat sink. The two leads to the TO-3 transistors are connected to solder pads on BOTH sides of the board, and one of the sides is UNDERNEATH the large heat sink.
I wound up tearing up a trace and lifting two pads that don't connect to anything. I resorted to mechanically flexing one of the transistors to break away the leads to allow me to remove the heat sink. Then I was able to clean the holes without the heat sink in the way.
Is there a better way?
I don't really see how I'm going to be able to put this back together. There are some blind traces under the heat sink that have to have a lead soldered to them. I can resort to using a socket or running a wire lead on the non-parts side back to where the transistor connects.
That'll make it look pretty hacked though.
Any good hints? The design doesn't lead to any ease in replacing these transistors. I was trying to pry up on the transistors while applying enough to heat to melt the solder on the side under the heat sink.
Thanks for any clues.
K
Maybe I'll ask Bob Roberts- he says he's done HUNDREDS of these- NO, THOUSANDS...
