Need help with soldering station and melted connections?

Hey there I just found an S9i miner that’s been chugging along. It wasn’t overclocked, but since switching to brains OS, it’s been running faster. Now I see that the supply wires from the PSU melted, plus all the x9 connections on all 3 hashboards are wrecked. I ripped off the burnt plastic for now and ordered x50 ends to fix the boards. Does your PSU still work? It has 12v on the main connectors.

https://ibb.co/j8shZMJ https://ibb.co/rMNWw0r

What was the hash rate? 16th? 17th maybe? Sounds like you might’ve set the power too high. Ideally, an S9i should clock around 12th pulling 960 watts. You got a power meter?

Just a heads up, overclocking older miners with aged PSUs always leads to fails like this. You need a high wattage soldering iron, at least 60W. The connections suck the heat away super fast.

Seems like you went in without checking first. With braiinsOS, it can go sideways if you’re not careful. For tools, I’ve seen adjustable soldering irons for like 60W, but some go up to 80W, though those are pricier. Just get a steel wool for tip cleaning and rosin for flux.

Yeah, I got a power meter too. Before my upgrade, it was pulling 1320w. After the OS change, it spiked to 1420w with the wattage set to 1350. Dropped it to 1250w and saw 1370w. Got this soldering iron ordered. Looks like it’s got solder and cleaner with it.

Good iron tips usually have iron plating, so they last longer. Use a brillo pad to clean them up. Remember to always clean the tip before you solder.

I feel you. My tips need heavy scrubbing, too! I usually just sand them, dip in flux, and hope for the best. So this brass cleaner should help keep them in shape longer, right?

Looks like that iron had a bare copper tip and wasn’t temperature-controlled. That’s why it oxidized so fast. Your new iron should solve that.

Sandpaper and a sponge are not good for cleaning soldering tips, man. They just lead to more oxidation. New irons should come with a coated tip.

The new iron you picked up is temp-controlled, right? Set it around 400C, and you shouldn’t have damage from oxidation if you keep it clean.

Right. If those PCIe connectors are burnt, the data cables can be affected too. They share some lines with the power circuit which can lead to issues.

Yikes, that explains why one ribbon cable had issues. I found it slightly damaged, and the PSU 12v was messed up too. Managed to clean it up and got the cable to plug in again. Can I replace those if needed?

Yup, those connectors can be replaced. But be wary of other damages that might not be visible, especially on an S9i.

Solid advice here. Keeping that iron tip clean with copper cleaner and a damp sponge will go a long way, trust me. Saw some vids on calibration, and it’s wild how messed up some of these irons get.

Don’t use lacquer or paint thinners. They leave residues that can mess up the work. Isopropyl alcohol works better.

Thanks for that! Always good info here. Newbies should definitely get into your posts for knowledge.

Much appreciated! It helps balance out the weirdos around here. Just gotta stay focused on the good stuff, you know?

Lacquer can work for me, but I like lacquer Flo better since it doesn’t leave residues. Tried using dish soap on boards; it does alright, just need a hot air blower for drying.