I’m trying to repair an arcade PCB with intermittent audio. The board on top is the audio board, the bottom board is the everything else.

There is a short or poor connection somewhere in this 96 pin DIN, press-fit connector.

I have OEM replacements, and would like to install new ones, but really have no idea how to do it properly (if you can even do it properly). My first thought was to do the following:

  • Physically cut the pressfit connection to remove the plastic housings
  • individually remove each cut pin from the PCB
  • 3D print a “frame” around the connector area to minimize PCB flex, and use an arbor press to insert the press-fit connector

If anyone else has suggestions, I’m all ears!

  • andreyk0English
    4·
    1 year ago

    I’d try deoxit first. If that fails, one pin at a time is a lot of work but doable

    • plasticmanufacturingOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Do I just individually put a drop of that in each through hole basically? No cleanup, just let it rest in the hole?

  • sweafaEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    pressfit connections usually are very reliable. if there is a poor connection i would presume that the barrel of the via is broken and a new pressfit connector will not help. maybe putting solder in would help. did you already test for poor connections?

    • plasticmanufacturingOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Barrel of the via? I’m unfamiliar with that terminology – what is that? I did a continuity check from the very bottom to the very top and everything tested good. When the audio is out, twisting the header a bit would usually bring it back so I assume(d) it was just a poor connection somewhere despite the continuity check.

      EDIT: Okay, some quick Googling got me understanding this better. As I mentioned, continuity is good, but I still suspect it’s something in this area. I suppose I could remove the connectors and install solder connectors, instead of press fit?

      • sweafaEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        yes i think so, but u would have to make sure the solder will rise through the through-hole as mich as possible. maybe u can try to find the faulty pin with wiggling them separately

      • Susan_B_GoodEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        I think that it is the same stuff, just will propellant added in the aerosol. A small squeezy bottle with a needle is better if you have live stuff nearby - but you can always fill one from an aerosol