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During a replacement of a camera mother board, I managed to screw up one of the ribbon connectors, by tearing it right where the ribbon slides into female slot. I am unable to find any replacement ribbon cables.

So what I did was I removed the plastic housing and exposed the pins themselves and plan on running wires from the traces on the ribbon cable to these connectors.

Problem: The pins are very close to each other and thin. How can I increase my chances of success ?

Pic: enter image description here

I am planning on ordering a very sharp solder tip and 40 AWG enamelled copper wire and giving it a go. Any suggestions?

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Circle the part of the PCB you are talking about. \$\endgroup\$
    – DKNguyen
    Commented Jun 16, 2022 at 23:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ Good luck! I wont say it is impossible, but it will be challenging. I would suggest you get a syringe of flux gel as this helps to stop the solder bridging. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! \$\endgroup\$
    – Kartman
    Commented Jun 16, 2022 at 23:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ Sorry if it's not clear, but there's a red arrow pointing to the pins at 6'0clock. \$\endgroup\$
    – smooth_smoothie
    Commented Jun 16, 2022 at 23:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ That pitch looks rather enormous to me. 1.27mm? You could go with 24AWG or even 22AWG. 40 is very thin. \$\endgroup\$
    – DKNguyen
    Commented Jun 16, 2022 at 23:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ I like wire wrap wires for things like this, prepared with solder and then fixed without additional solder. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jens
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 2:02

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First...did you check Digikey or Mouser for replacement cables? Even if you can't find a replacement, soldering a through-hole FPC flex cable of the correct pitch is going to be infinitely easier than soldering loose 40AWG wire.

I personally think magnet wire is going to give you trouble trying to solder through the enamel while also aiming for the pad without burning something. I have never been able to reliably solder through so-called solderable magnet wire. Also makes nasty fumes. I find it safer to just strip wire wrap wire. But if you do go magnet wire, strip the insulation first with sandpaper or acid or however you want to go about it. Don't try to solder through it.

You probably do not want a sharp tip but a small bevel/oval/hoof tip that can hold a solder bead on the end so do not need a hand holding solder wire. Add external flux and let the solder wet where it will.

The ones with a flat face and no tinning on the sides are best, followed by the bevel tips with a cup ground into them, followed by a flat faced bevel tip with tinning on the sides.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ This is connector I removed:imgur.com/i13WO5A.png I don't know how to figure out the pitch. Are you able to tell \$\endgroup\$
    – smooth_smoothie
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 0:17
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    \$\begingroup\$ You would need calipers \$\endgroup\$
    – DKNguyen
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 0:21
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    \$\begingroup\$ @smooth_smoothie Caliper -> measure center to center from the two outer-most pins -> divide by the number of signals. \$\endgroup\$
    – Lundin
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 13:19

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