FET Upgrade two part video

[byebye]

I found the time to shoot some video of me doing a FET removal. I have attached pictures of the FETs after install and of the tip of the soldering iron. Yes I know the installed chips on the board look like arse. The idea is to take your time. Patience is the key to a good clean install. There are also tons of stuff you can do to clean the board up before you start. This was a down and dirty install video I just had to make. I put the car together after the video and ran it on the track. Much better . All of my cars except my first Enzo are done by me.

Thanks for all the positive feed back .

-Byebye

FET upgrade video Part 1: removing the stock FETs

FET upgrade video Part 2: installing the new FETs

-Byebye

[saiyan]

I'll be subscribing to this thread.

[bda52]

Same here and this should be a sticky!!!!

[Ibrake Ifry]

how long do you heat up the stock fets for?
from my experience if you heat the board up to much they will lift pretty easily
just my 2 cents

[ct-mini]

Can't wait till part 2... Keep up the great work....

[byebye]

Originally Posted by Ibrake Ifry

how long do you heat up the stock fets for?
from my experience if you heat the board up to much they will lift pretty easily
just my 2 cents

I use a 35w iron and you hit each side and push lightly at the same time. Once the solder on the board is melting you move steady back and forth then it just melts(not breaks) loose then you just push it off the board. You don't want it to cool and stick to other parts.

Time may vary depending on how hot your iron is. I think people are pulling the pads when you pry on the board. If you notice I just push it off with out putting upwards pressure on the pads.

I hope it can be a very useful video to everyone wanting a little cheap speed.

-Byebye

[Ken Mifune]

Nice video, byebye.
I said in another thread that I use a 30watt iron for FET removal, but I checked and it says 40. and the tip is similar to your "sharpened" version. Desoldering braid really speeds up the process but, just like in your vid, letting the iron do the work is key.
I look forward to your FET install vid (for me that's the easy part).
Good work.

[will3kgt]

Originally Posted by byebye

I found the time to shoot some video of me doing a FET removal. I have attached pictures of the FETs after install and of the tip of the soldering iron. Yes I know the installed chips on the board look like arse. The idea is to take your time. Patience is the key to a good clean install. There are also tons of stuff you can do to clean the board up before you start. This was a down and dirty install video I just had to make. I put the car together after the video and ran it on the track. Much better . All of my cars except my first Enzo are done by me.

Thanks for all the positive feed back .

-Byebye

FET upgrade video Part 1: removing the stock FETs

FET upgrade video Part 2: installing the new FETs

-Byebye

THAKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!
I've been waiting to see a FET upgrade video for I don't know how long. You don't even realize how many mini-zs & Iwavers you've brought back to life. (That's just my collection.) Thanks again. If there's anything I can do for you. (Parts, or whatever) Please email me.

[byebye]

Originally Posted by will3kgt

THAKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!
I've been waiting to see a FET upgrade video for I don't know how long. You don't even realize how many mini-zs & Iwavers you've brought back to life. (That's just my collection.) Thanks again. If there's anything I can do for you. (Parts, or whatever) Please email me.

Hey you're welcome. This is geared toward the DIY's. The shop has the chips for so cheap and the work really is very easy(with a video and instructions). It's my gift to the forums .

The only thing I expect is for people to take pics and video .

-Byebye

[imxlr8ed]

Great vid... It's a great instructional ! About time someone did it !

But... (there's always a but) As an admiring, fellow board surgeon... I must say your technique is rather brutal. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to knock you here... I'm just amazed about a few things. I will describe...

I only use a 25 watt iron with a very long, narrow tip... I heard high heat for extended periods of time decreased the efficiency of the fet... or was I instructed wrongly ? I remove fets one foot at a time, I apply the iron to the foot, and use a dental hook to lever it upwards slowly. (you sat temato, I say tahmahto )

Where did you get that iron tip... nasty ! I would say it's near impossible to install a triple stack with that, I'm sure you've done stacks... but I would bet it wasn't with that thang ! (if it was... you have jedi like control)

Why so much solder ?... I've never had to add solder to a single layer install, (stacks are a different story) I've always just used what was left on the pads after they've been smoothed, never had a problem !

Also, you can have a wad of solder on the "output" side of the fets, I've done stacks with "inline" connections, and some have the custom wad'o'solder down the back. (usually when I'm feeling lazy ) But you are absolutely right about the "input" side of the fet, I usually just pick gently between those with an exacto tip just to make sure there are no cross connections hiding in there.

Just a different style I guess ! (you big iron tip wielding savage you !!! ) Great job ! Wish I was more internet savvy so I could post a vid as well. Hey... maybe if you come across the pond again, we can have fet install races !
Cya !

[byebye]

Originally Posted by imxlr8ed

Great vid... It's a great instructional ! About time someone did it !

But... (there's always a but) As an admiring, fellow board surgeon... I must say your technique is rather brutal. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to knock you here... I'm just amazed about a few things. I will describe...

I only use a 25 watt iron with a very long, narrow tip... I heard high heat for extended periods of time decreased the efficiency of the fet... or was I instructed wrongly ? I remove fets one foot at a time, I apply the iron to the foot, and use a dental hook to lever it upwards slowly. (you sat temato, I say tahmahto )

I usually tell if I've over heated the board when I can feel it through my fingers. I don't usually keep it on there long when I'm installing the chips.

Originally Posted by imxlr8ed

Where did you get that iron tip... nasty ! I would say it's near impossible to install a triple stack with that, I'm sure you've done stacks... but I would bet it wasn't with that thang ! (if it was... you have jedi like control)

I didn't prep the iron in the beginning of the video. I noted that in the middle of the vid. Normally I would make it much sharper. When it's sharper it makes it easier to get to the legs by the box.

Originally Posted by imxlr8ed

Why so much solder ?... I've never had to add solder to a single layer install, (stacks are a different story) I've always just used what was left on the pads after they've been smoothed, never had a problem !

I like to make sure there is plenty there for a real good connection. When running hot motors thos legs and solder get very hot. I believe that the more solder you have the less resistance and the best connection possible. Also it's pretty much ready to add more chips. The reverse chip was a used chips so the legs weren't factory bent.

Originally Posted by imxlr8ed

Also, you can have a wad of solder on the "output" side of the fets, I've done stacks with "inline" connections, and some have the custom wad'o'solder down the back. (usually when I'm feeling lazy ) But you are absolutely right about the "input" side of the fet, I usually just pick gently between those with an exacto tip just to make sure there are no cross connections hiding in there.

I know you can and the first time I did a FET upgrade/repair there wasn't a video on the net and I could barely find pictures. Everything I found showed it that way but I never kept them for reference. I figure you can't go wrong if you reinstall them the way they were when you started.

Originally Posted by imxlr8ed

Just a different style I guess ! (you big iron tip wielding savage you !!! ) Great job ! Wish I was more internet savvy so I could post a vid as well. Hey... maybe if you come across the pond again, we can have fet install races !
Cya !

I did the video instead of going to bed . I frequent the forums and alot of people were asking questions about FET upgrades. Everyone likes vids and I love making them so I thought I'd share my DIY upgrade.

I'd like to make another one. This time doing the removale/replacement/stack. It had been a while since I did an upgrade. I do all of my own work and most of the cars had already been done so I let my iron go to shat.

My goal with this video was to give people confidence and instruction to do it themselves.

-Byebye

[imxlr8ed]

Originally Posted by byebye

My goal with this video was to give people confidence and instruction to do it themselves.-Byebye

Well done, agree on all points ! We don't run too many hot motors here though, probably why I've never needed the extra solder. I have had feet come up before too, just a tap with the iron, and they're back to life. More than one way to skin a cat ! But when I saw the removal vid, and I saw that skanky soldering tip, humping the hell out of those fets, I was amazed ! (never even knew it was possible to do that !, though it would kill a board) I'd say your goal was more than acheived !

I wish this vid was out when I first started frying boards too ! (oh... so many fried, so long ago ! )

Thanks ByeBye !

[will3kgt]

Originally Posted by byebye

Hey you're welcome. This is geared toward the DIY's. The shop has the chips for so cheap and the work really is very easy(with a video and instructions). It's my gift to the forums .

The only thing I expect is for people to take pics and video .

-Byebye

IT WORKED!.....Well, sort of. I did 2 x 3 fet stack this morning and when I did the motor test it didn't move then all of the sudden the motor came to life. So I turned off my car tried it again and the same thing happened....Oh yeah and my reverse doesn't work I'm going to try to resodder the fets again tommorow morning. Nevertheless, your video is the most helpful information I've recieved in my last 3 years of racing. Pictures will be forthcoming. Thanks again.

[byebye]

Originally Posted by will3kgt

IT WORKED!.....Well, sort of. I did 2 x 3 fet stack this morning and when I did the motor test it didn't move then all of the sudden the motor came to life. So I turned off my car tried it again and the same thing happened....Oh yeah and my reverse doesn't work I'm going to try to resodder the fets again tommorow morning. Nevertheless, your video is the most helpful information I've recieved in my last 3 years of racing. Pictures will be forthcoming. Thanks again.

Let us know how it turned out.

-Byebye

[lieland]

Awesome VID!!!! helped a great deal.