EMX rotary encoder replacement

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:13 pm

I'm finally fed up with the main pattern encoder jumping all over the place, so I think I'll be replacing it with a new one (have one on order locally). I bought my EMX used, so no warranty. Now, I've never opened my EMX, and I'm wondering what I'm getting myself into. I've done soldering jobs before, so I'm not too worried about that. I just want to know if anyone has successfully done this operation. Any gotchas along the way? You know, stuff to worry about as I'm opening up the unit?

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borg elite · Post by **borg elite** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:50 pm

Anyone?

I wouldn't mind opening up my EMX too to take a look at a dead LED.

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:10 pm

I will let you know after I attempt the replacement (probably this weekend). In the meantime there's more info in the equivalent thread over at Ruso's electribe-forums:

http://www.electribe-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=318

borg elite · Post by **borg elite** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:59 pm

Cheers. I'll keep an eye on the thread at Ruso's place.

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:13 pm

I successfully replaced the main pattern rotary encoder. Details in the electribe-forum post: http://www.electribe-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=318

Sorry: no pictures or videos, since I didn't have much time to get my stuff off the kitchen table. Hopefully the text is descriptive enough for anyone attempting this fix.

borg elite · Post by **borg elite** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:06 pm

Excellent write up

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:00 pm

Thanks borg! While I was working on the board, I noticed the led's and the location of the solder joints. It shouldn't be too hard to replace a dead one if you're up to it. You would basically follow what I did and go for the led instead of the encoder.

borg elite · Post by **borg elite** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:27 pm

I'm very tempted. I'm not that experienced at soldering but I have done some recently which involved soldering some tiny wires.

This is what I've done before. The solder joints are 2mm long. I'm guessing the LEDs will be even smaller. I'll take a look first and see if it's within my limited capabilities

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:35 am

Yeah, the led leads are pretty small and close together. I think killedaway changed his led's recently so maybe you can get a few tips from him.

Also, soldering a lead into a circuit board is easier than soldering two wires like you did. The main thing with circuit boards is to apply the right amount of heat to desolder/solder the joints, no more than that, especially near ICs.

pep4 · Post by **pep4** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:03 pm

Hi, i have this problem encoder: sometimes goes backward, sometimes forward, in the same direction push.

Ruso · Post by **Ruso** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:54 pm

borg elite wrote:I'm very tempted. I'm not that experienced at soldering but I have done some recently which involved soldering some tiny wires.

This is what I've done before. The solder joints are 2mm long. I'm guessing the LEDs will be even smaller. I'll take a look first and see if it's within my limited capabilities

Don't, the phrase "I''m not that experienced" throws a flag out there for me.... the problem is that although it's pretty straightforward there are some things that can go very wrong very easily. If something like that were to happen you would have a lot of trouble fixing it and you would probably end up causing more irreversible damage. When it comes to soldering there are some techniques you need to have mastered (for example if the solder hops from one trace to another and connects them.... and you have to learn a desolder wick or trigger on it.... also if you solder wires to leads there's a very high risk of ripping off the lead... also you have to use a certain type of wire for this.

Also although basic soldering is easy, you really must know the proper way to do this... (ie,. instead of feeding the solder tip with solder and putting it onto the components, you need to feed it directly onto the components.... you have to use a wet sponge and clean the iron very often)....

Doing basic soldering on things like car stereos and wires is not the same game as doing circuit boards and the electribe's circuit i/o boards are very picky!