Steering Help!

[taiwanesekid05]

I was swapping out boards when I tried everything out. And, suddenly, the area where you solder the servo to the board started to smoke.

My guess is here:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4673/img2548xx3.jpg

I don't know what I did wrong. Here are my solders:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/268/img2552ha3.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2066/img2554pf9.jpg


And, if I soldered wrong, can I still fix it or will I only be able to go forwards and back?

[Donziikid]

It doesn't look like you bridged any pad connections between ports 14, 15 and 16; pads 4 and 5 also seem to be ok. My educated guess would be the steering FETs overheated, causing the smoke.

Does your steering not work at all anymore?

[taiwanesekid05]

Yeah, it didn't work at first or the third time. Now I'm too scared to check it...

[texan_idiot25]

Probably did accidently cook them

My suggestion for future jobs, toss the EP into your freezer (wrapped/sitting on a towl) and let it chill out for a few minutes. Same thing with lith cells as well.

[taiwanesekid05]

Will it still work, or do I have to change those little FETs or is it tottaly unfixable?

[Donziikid]

Without the steering FETs it won't work. You could replace the steering FETs with new FETs of the same type, but I'm unsure as to what FETs they are. I can assure you they're not the same as throttle FETs.

You're going to have to either order a new board or wait and see if anyone knows of some replacement steering FETs.

[taiwanesekid05]

I"ve got a few (3) exta boards laying around with only fried FETs. I could grab the FETs off from there.

And just to double check, is the steering ok, or is it dead?

[Donziikid]

I"ve got a few (3) exta boards laying around with only fried FETs. I could grab the FETs off from there.

Good luck soldering. Make sure to tell us how it turns out! :)

[taiwanesekid05]

So... Is my steering gone?

[Donziikid]

So... Is my steering gone?

We don't have the board in front of us. :lol:

Try turning it on. If you get a steering response, then it's not fried. If you get no response, well, then it's obviously fried. :lol:

There are no visible signs from the pictures you have supplied saying it is fried, but there aren't always visible signs of FETs frying. The smoke leads me to believe your FETs or something around your steering FETs have friend, causing you to lose your steering response.

Check and see. ;)

[taiwanesekid05]

The servo kind of works, but I can't steer now:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6021/img2555ul7.jpg

And the steering FETs:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4281/img2558uj2.jpg

[Donziikid]

Yeah, that FET is toast. See that burn spot? Always not a good sign.

[fieldfairy2]

I believe your power wires to the servo are switched. #4 and 5 I think black is the one closest to the front of the car(negative,#5) and white towards the rear(positive,#4. at least on the car anyway. I am doing an hs-55 steering conversion and that's how my wires are soldered. Good luck Hope this helps

[Donziikid]

I believe your power wires to the servo are switched. #4 and 5 I think black is the one closest to the front of the car(negative,#5) and white towards the rear(positive,#4. at least on the car anyway. I am doing an hs-55 steering conversion and that's how my wires are soldered. Good luck Hope this helps

Good eye, Fieldfairy. That would be correct. On an Xmod EVO Touring, the black wire goes the port numbered 5 and the white wire goes to port number 4.

I was too busy looking at the POT wires I overlooked the motor wires...

[fieldfairy2]

Good eye, Fieldfairy. That would be correct. On an Xmod EVO Touring, the black wire goes the port numbered 5 and the white wire goes to port number 4.

I was too busy looking at the POT wires I overlooked the motor wires...


thanks. I noticed it because i have been working with the servos alot lately. (hs-55 servo swap) that is how it worked. Just like the motor outputs. front of the car(towards the front) is negative(black wire, like motor) and the towards the rear is the positive(lighter color wires, red and white)

[taiwanesekid05]

Ok, I'll switch them. Does anyone know how to remove FETs without destroying them? I've been tryin to switch out the FETs but the glue is making it hard.

[fieldfairy2]

Ok, I'll switch them. Does anyone know how to remove FETs without destroying them? I've been tryin to switch out the FETs but the glue is making it hard.

you need a really good soldering tip and some skills. I haven't done this but i would guess you could get some really small needle nose pliers and a soldering iron. Heat it up(soldering iron) and melt the solder on one of the fet tabs and before it cools(maybe need 2 people) try to lift the tab up with the pliers. repeat for all sides.. Hope this helps and good luck:)

[2wdpancar]

That can rip off pcb pads, cut the legs with an exacto and then heat the pads to get th legs off the pcb pads.;)

[taiwanesekid05]

Mmm... I think I get it. So, does anyone know how to get the black square part off? It seems to be glued down.