We repair a cell phone
In most cases, breakdowns of cell phones are quite easy to fix and come down to replacing the display, speaker, all kinds of cables and body elements. In the vast majority of cases, complex soldering of any elements is not required. The repair process is limited to replacing the display or a cable that connects to the cell phone circuit board via a connector. It is also quite often required to clean the cell phone circuit board from corrosion and oxides. At the same time, time-consuming soldering of microcircuits and other elements is not required.
But there are breakdowns that require the replacement of a microcircuit or the soldering of an element on the printed circuit board of a cell phone (SIM card holder, battery connector, power connector, etc.).
For successful repair of cell phones, a special tool is naturally needed. In addition, consumables are also needed, which should be on hand during the repair process.
When equipping one workplace for the service repair of cell phones, you will need several devices. Let's list them. Devices required for software repair of cell phones will not be considered.
For professional cell phone repair, of course, you need to get a soldering station. All radio elements on the cell phone board are surface-mounted, and the radio elements are extremely small. When soldering such tiny (SMD) items, you should control the soldering temperature and try not to overheat the electronic components. The soldering temperature of electronic components should not exceed 240 0 -260 0 C. If the critical temperature is exceeded, the probability of damage to the electronic component is high.
The soldering station has all the necessary functions for working with small parts. This includes adjusting the temperature of the soldering iron tip within 200 0 - 480 0 C, digital indication of the temperature of the tip, the ability to use all kinds of tips for any work. It is also worth noting that a conventional electric soldering iron is not galvanically isolated from the mains, which increases the likelihood of damage to sensitive electronic elements on the mobile phone board. Therefore, a conventional electric soldering iron is not suitable for repairing cell phones.
Hot air soldering station.
There are two approaches to soldering surface mount elements (SMD, BGA). The first is hot air soldering and the second is infrared soldering. Despite the fact that infrared (IR) soldering has many advantages over hot air soldering, hot air soldering stations are more widely available. This is probably due to the fact that they have a simpler design and are several times cheaper than infrared soldering stations. It should also be noted that infrared soldering stations are more suitable for repairing motherboards of laptops and large computers.
The motherboards of computers and laptops use microcircuits that have larger linear dimensions than the microcircuits on the circuit board of cell phones, and during dismantling, uniform and larger heating of the microcircuits is required. Infrared soldering stations just have such qualities as uniform heating.
Unlike infrared soldering stations, hot air soldering stations heat the soldered element less evenly. In addition, when working with a hot air soldering station, it is necessary to monitor the flow rate of hot air. If you set too high an air flow rate, then when soldering it is easy to “blow off” neighboring elements and the heating of the element will be uneven due to the presence of hot air swirls. If you reduce the air flow rate, then the heating of the soldered part will be slower due to the fact that the still air is a heat insulator.
Despite the negative qualities of hot air soldering, hot air soldering stations are actively used in the repair of cell phones. The small dimensions of the printed circuit boards of cell phones and electronic components on them allow for high-quality assembly and disassembly of microcircuits and small-sized elements. Of course, during the repair process, it is worthwhile to correctly set the speed of hot air supply through the nozzle of the hair dryer and the air heating temperature.
Why do you need device for bottom heating of circuit boards
? Oddly enough, but when repairing portable electronics - laptops, mobile phones, PDAs - the device is very necessary. The point is this.
If it is necessary to dismantle any part from the printed circuit board of the device, it is necessary to heat the element to the solder reflow temperature. Since SMT elements and BGA microcircuits are very widely used in portable electronics, when soldering with hot air, you have to warm up the microcircuit case first, and only then the contacts themselves. Naturally, heat transfer occurs from the heated microcircuit to the printed circuit board. This leads to the fact that it takes a long time to heat the soldered element, which can lead to its overheating.
In addition to overheating of electronic components, there is also the possibility of damage to the printed circuit board. With uneven heating, it begins to warp, deformation, delamination occurs. If you sharply heat the printed circuit board to a temperature of more than 280 0 C, then it will swell. In the future, it will not be possible to eliminate such deformation of the printed circuit board. For smooth and uniform heating of the printed circuit board, the bottom heating station is used.
When replacing elements such as, for example, the SIM card holder, the lower heating of the board is very convenient. Before soldering the defective latch, the printed circuit board is heated using the bottom board heating station to a temperature of 120 0 - 140 0 C. In this case, the solder at the place of soldering the contacts warms up and for its final reflow, short-term soldering with hot air using a hot air gun is required. If you solder the latch only using a hot air soldering station, then prolonged exposure to hot air will deform the plastic base of the SIM card latch. It is clear that when replacing joysticks, the bottom heating station will also facilitate the work and allow it to be done more efficiently.
When restoring cell phones, you will definitely need power unit
. With it, you can charge a discharged mobile phone battery or power a repaired device. In some cases, when repairing, there is a need to control the current consumed by a cell phone. Therefore, it is desirable that a built-in ammeter be present in the power supply. Preference should be given to devices with a pointer ammeter, since ammeters with digital indication are more inert.
For convenience, you can use a regular serviceable battery from any cell phone. Conductors with crocodile clips are soldered to its conclusions (there are three of them). Such a universal rechargeable battery can be used in the repair of any cell phone. The main thing is to be able to correctly connect the clamps to the power connector of the cell phone being repaired and from time to time charge such a universal battery.
In many cases, a universal power battery is enough to diagnose a cell phone malfunction and check its health. In this case, a stationary power supply may not be required at all.
Ultrasonic bath (UZV).
It's no secret that one of the most common causes of mobile phone malfunctions is exposure to water. Since the cell phone is constantly on and has an autonomous power supply, even with a short exposure to water, traces of electrochemical corrosion appear on metal surfaces and contacts on the printed circuit board. The complexity of restoring the operation of “drowned” phones lies in the fact that the printed circuit board of the mobile phone is multilayer, and many microcircuits are mounted on the board using the BGA method, which makes it difficult to clean the contacts located under the microcircuit housing. Manual cleaning of the printed circuit board with special cleaning sprays or alcohol does not always lead to success and the cell phone does not always restore its functionality.
For deeper cleaning from corrosion and restoration of telephone boards - “drowned” are used ultrasonic baths (USW). Cleaning agent is poured into the ultrasonic bath. Under the action of ultrasonic waves, microbubbles appear in the liquid, which, collapsing and moving randomly, effectively clean all elements damaged by corrosion. Ultrasound accelerates chemical and physical processes, and the use of a special cleaning fluid contributes to high-quality cleaning. Using an ultrasonic bath, you can restore the operation of a seemingly hopeless cell phone.
Multimeter.
multimeter in the workshop - this is already a classic. Any master involved in the repair of electronics always has a multifunction tester in his workshop, with which you can measure voltage, current, resistance, and conduct “continuity” of contacts. And if the multimeter also contains a thermocouple, then they can measure the temperature of a printed circuit board or an electronic component during repair work.
This is only a tentative answer to the question of what equipment you need to have in a cell phone repair shop. Many of the listed devices will not be required immediately, but as you grow professionally and develop your business. It is also worth noting that the devices necessary for software repair are not considered here.
Do not forget that in the process of hardware repair, consumables are needed: flux, solder paste, cleaner, etc.
Even a novice master will not cope with solving the simplest tasks if he does not have certain ones “at hand”. Especially if the specialist intends to restore electronic gadgets, communications. Let's say right away that cell phones cannot be restored “on the knee”, you will have to incur certain material costs for arranging the workplace. We will not enumerate cutting-edge devices; in the framework of the article, we will present only a set of the most necessary for a professional.
Hand tools
Let's start with the most elementary and simple - with classical instruments. In the list, we present the main types that you really can’t do without:
1. It will be necessary to purchase. Moreover, flat and cruciform versions of several “running” sizes will be required. Don't forget to order torx screwdrivers. As for the dimension, it must comply with the standards from T5 to T7. It's also a good idea to get a set with interchangeable nozzles. In this case, there will definitely not be problems with disassembling the case, other components of the device.
2. When assembling a set of repair tools, do not forget about such an important thing as a scalpel. It is with its help that you can very easily clean the tracks, wires. Try not to skimp on the accessory - notches will appear quite quickly on a budget copy.
3. You will definitely need a pair of tweezers. Look for a standard pattern and one curved one that will allow you to get to hard-to-reach elements.
4. An eraser pencil, made in the form of a classic pencil, will definitely come in handy. With it, it is easy to clean oxidized contact coatings. You will need a little time to put in order badly neglected contacts.
5. Do not be surprised, but experts often use toothbrushes in order to cope with minor oxides when working with “recessed” smartphone models. Great efficiency can be achieved in combination with a special liquid, called a wash by service specialists.
6. The holder, in which the board is firmly fixed, greatly facilitates the workflow. It is easier for a person to do fine work when a small fragile element is fixed.
Power supplies
Quite often, visitors bring failed gadgets to service centers in a completely discharged state. Be sure to keep a charger available that can charge any battery. In this case, there will be no difficulties in testing the performance of electronics.
Take care of the order. Often during the testing process, there is an urgent need to power the phone from the PSU in order to track the corresponding operating parameters. Such an element is also very important when the smartphone battery is completely unusable or in its absence. Stop the choice on the product with the following parameters: for output voltage within 0 - 15 Volts, for current at least 1 Ampere. It is necessary to order samples equipped with indicators, because only in this case it will be possible to accurately fix certain operating parameters. As professional workers of specialized centers advise, preference should be given to devices with a pointer indication, it is much easier to read it during testing.
Soldering equipment
You will have to spend a lot of money on a soldering device, on additional tools from this series and related accessories. So, here is a small list of working tools from this series:
1. Be mentally prepared for the fact that the standard will not save you. You will need to select a special soldering station. Only with its help you can achieve amazingly accurate results if you need to solder chips, if you need to replace filters. Modern hot air models significantly facilitate the work of the master, due to the high degree of reliability, the service will provide long-term guarantees when performing complex tasks.
2. Experts advise buying BGA stencils, in parallel, you need to stock up on BGA paste. As practice shows, it is these elements that will be required when carrying out particularly delicate work. As for the selection of a brand of pasta, here rely on your preferences. It is convenient for some to work with a thick paste, many masters prefer a more liquid modification.
3. As you can see, not only tools for repairing phones are needed, but dozens of “little things” should be purchased. You will definitely need a no-clean flux gel. The substance boils at a very high temperature, so it is indispensable for mounting chips in elements such as BGA packages. Why is the product called no-clean? The fact is that it is distinguished by the complete absence of chemical activity after soldering is completed. Accordingly, there is no further risk of component damage due to corrosion. In addition, additional protection against moisture is provided.
4. A convenient addition will be a special braid, which greatly facilitates the removal of solder. The process of removing excess is greatly simplified and takes less time.
5. Not as a main, but as an auxiliary device, you will need a conventional electric soldering iron with 40W characteristics. It is needed when working with large discrete components with significant heat dissipation. Such an accessory is indispensable when preparing landing points for charging connectors and other similar elements.
magnifying devices
Another expensive purchase will be a microscope. Even a person with excellent eyesight cannot do without it. With its help, boards and other small details are viewed. With its help, especially delicate, responsible work is performed, requiring maximum eye strain. In addition, look at several magnifiers of different power. They will be a great addition to a stationary device. Sometimes some detail is more convenient to consider in the hands.
Measuring instruments
It is not at all easy, and sometimes impossible, to identify a complex breakdown thanks to one experience. To achieve the goal, you will need special equipment for repairing the phone, which serves to test the operability of communication equipment. Within the framework of the section, devices are presented that will help to quickly identify a malfunction:
1. The first in importance is the multimeter. This is one of the main instances that allows you to identify technical problems. As for the model line, there are no special recommendations here. The main thing that should be emphasized in the process of searching for a product is the accuracy of the readings. You can judge this by reading the opinions of real users.
2. It is problematic to restore a recessed smartphone without an ultrasonic bath. No fine scrupulous cleaning with special means will save the situation! It is possible that you will restore the means of communication, but it will work for a very short time. Guarantees should be given only if there is a special bath. Thanks to the vibrations of ultrasound, it is possible to achieve phenomenal results in seemingly hopeless situations. Practice knows many cases when in this way it was possible to restore hopeless "drowned people" for many years. The secret of effectiveness is quite simple - this is how the effects of oxides and the manifestation of sulphations are destroyed. Impeccable quality of cleaning the board is not difficult to achieve, for this you must follow the standard recommendations of the manufacturer.
3. Significant support in solving complex problems will be provided by the oscilloscope. It is able to measure and then display various types of signals, show operating amplitudes. In this case, too, there are no special recommendations. The main advice - try to opt for a sample with fairly accurate readings.
4. The most important tool for repairing mobile phones today is a regular computer, or any laptop. Don't chase high performance, fashion model. It is better to spend these funds on diagnostic products. Take care to install the appropriate software to make it more convenient to work when flashing phones. It is impossible to foresee all situations, so you will definitely need Internet access to download programs and data.
5. You will need a certain set of programmers, there are a great many of them at the moment. There are universal products designed for communication equipment of several brands. There are narrowly targeted samples designed to work with a single manufacturer. There is no single choice recommendation. It is necessary to take into account the preferences of potential customers in the area where the service is located, to listen to the opinion of more experienced colleagues.
When choosing the equipment you like, never be in a hurry. Always compare it with other copies released under a different brand name. Compare cost, performance, accuracy, ease of use. Do not be lazy to get acquainted with the responses of consumers who have already formed their own opinion about the capabilities of a particular device. Then the risk of errors in the selection process will be significantly reduced.
Today, the service for the repair of smartphones and tablets is in high demand. Even in small towns and villages there are four or five workshops for repairing mobile equipment, and it seems to many beginners that they can’t break through. In fact, things are not so at all.
If you have a desire to try your hand at this business, then you can start small, namely, acquire a minimum set of tools for repairing smartphones and tablets. And then the question arises, what to buy in the first place? We'll talk about this.
Of the devices and materials that are most often required when repairing smartphones and tablets, I would single out the following:
The list turned out to be small, as I tried to indicate only what has been most often used in practice over the past few years.
As you grow, if the need arises, you can buy other, more expensive equipment: a microscope, a laboratory power supply, an infrared soldering station, a bottom board heating station, an ultrasonic bath, a laminator, an autoclave, etc.
Digital multimeter.
And this means that it takes longer to warm up the microUSB connector, and, consequently, the printed circuit board. Because of this, it can warp, it can swell, exfoliate. To complicate matters, there are miniature SMD components nearby, such as resistors and capacitors, and sometimes an optical sensor or SMD LED. If exposed to excessive heat, these components may melt and become unusable.
To lower the melting point, the Rose alloy is used. Before dismantling the connector, all its contacts and soldered areas are "diluted" with a drop of Rose's alloy using a conventional soldering iron. Thanks to this, the solder at the soldering points begins to melt at a lower temperature, and, therefore, we can quickly heat it up with a hair dryer and dismantle it. At the same time, neighboring elements and the printed circuit board do not have time to heat up very much.
Rose alloy will also help out, for example, when installing a new digital microphone on the board. The fact is that a digital microphone is a rather sensitive component and is terribly afraid of overheating. Therefore, you can solder it to the board using the Rosé alloy.
This alloy is expensive, but the good news is that it lasts for a long time. If you decide to save money and buy it on Aliexpress, you will quickly be disappointed, because it is not sold there.
To protect neighboring elements from melting and slipping when soldering with a hairdryer, they can be covered with heat-resistant tape (aka polyimide or kapton).
It is used to protect plastic elements from melting and fix SMD components when soldering with a hairdryer or an IR station. It is often used in smartphones and tablets themselves to isolate and fix structural elements.
Copper braid.
A copper braid is required to remove excess solder. Without it, it is sometimes very difficult to remove its excess or solder jumpers between the contacts of the microUSB connector.
Copper braid can be purchased from AliExpress, where it will cost you less, and there is more choice than in retail or chain parts stores.
Glue for mounting touchscreens.
To install or "glue" touchscreens, you can use different adhesives (B7000, E8000, T-7000). In my practice, I use B-7000 glue. It dries quickly and is easy to "soften" with a slight heat, if suddenly something went wrong and the touchscreen needs to be re-glued.
Nippers or side cutters for working with electronics and precision mechanics.
It is very convenient to use side cutters to dismantle faulty microUSB connectors. The best choice would be high-quality side cutters of well-known brands. For quite a long time I used Pro "sKit 1PK-717 pliers. They are quite good and inexpensive, suitable for working with electronics. Unfortunately, everything that is harder than copper is too tough for them. Their tips break off and dismantling small elements with such pliers becomes a real punishment.
After some time, I decided to buy a better instrument. The choice fell on the side cutters KRAFTOOL KARBMAX 22018-5-13 with tungsten carbide inserts. At that time, their cost was 1600 rubles.
These are expensive and professional German side cutters designed just for working with electronics and precision mechanics. According to sellers, these are very often bought by those who repair smartphones.
Anyone who has dealt with electronics repair understands how complicated this process is. It requires not only certain skills, experience, accuracy, perseverance and skill, but also equipment that cannot be found in a box on a balcony or in a garage. Of course, tool kits for rare minor work with household devices at home are significantly different from those used in professional workshops for precise manipulations with small boards, cables, microscopic connectors, etc. That is why we offer our customers several sets of equipment and consumables, among which everyone can choose a set for their budget and specific needs.
The minimum set of tools for electronics repair
Our tools contain everything you need, What do you need for phone repair?. In it you will find the following devices:
- magnetic mat;
- a set of screwdrivers with tweezers and a suction cup;
- plastic mediator.
Each of these tools is necessary when replacing the case or display module on an Apple or any other manufacturer's smartphone. A magnetic mat prevents you from losing small screws and cables, a flat pick and tweezers help you carefully remove small parts of the device, standard screwdrivers are required to unscrew the bolts holding the protective panels and connectors, and a unique Pentalobe screwdriver for the bottom screws of the case of the latest iPhone models.
Set "Medium"
Ours is suitable for those who want to perform complex work on their own, and for specialists who need a minimum set of tools that will allow them to repair electronic devices to order. If you already know what equipment is needed to repair phones, tablets and computers, then be sure to rate this selection.
First of all, we should talk about the Lukey 702 hot air soldering station included in the Medium kit. It is a multifunctional device with which you can solder microcircuits in a BGA package, which are found today in almost all electronic gadgets from smartphones to laptops, with hot air. This model consists of the main unit with temperature controllers and a hair dryer with a turbine built into the handle, which pumps this air. This station, from one of the leading brands of soldering equipment, is very easy to operate and maintain, at an affordable price and with optimal performance.
In addition to the hot air station, the kit includes an ultrasonic bath for effective cleaning of small parts and tools, a universal power supply, a multimeter for monitoring voltage, current and resistance in the network, an ultraviolet lamp, a device for illuminating the workplace, several sets of screwdrivers and other devices for opening cases, molds for Apple smartphone displays, adhesive solutions and double-sided tape.
Standard set of tools
Everything can be found in what you need to repair cell phones and equipping a medium-level professional workshop. It also includes the compact, ergonomic and very handy Lukey 702 hot air station, with which you can perform many important tasks without having to deal with instrument settings and complex operating parameters. In addition, the set includes an optical microscope, which greatly facilitates precise work with the smallest details of devices, and a machine for disassembling sensor modules. The latter device is indispensable when dismantling broken displays, when the separation of glass fragments cannot be done by other improvised means. All other traditional electronics repair tools are also present in this set: reliable screwdrivers, needle files, wire cutters, wires, tweezers, knives, as well as adhesive tape and sealants for gluing will allow you to work with any gadgets.
Set "Maximum"
- this is the most complete set of equipment that is ideal for fully equipping a large modern service. Its main component can be considered a professional device designed to dismantle and install all types of components of surface-mounted printed circuit boards, not only standard electronic devices, but also other complex equipment: industrial PCs, servers, communicators, TVs, game consoles, etc. Soldering with its help is carried out by means of infrared heating of surfaces, which makes it possible to quickly locally heat specific areas to the desired temperature. This model has a huge functionality, determined by the presence of software and wide memory.
In addition to the IR station, the "Maximum" kit includes a board heater, a Lukey 702 hot air device, a set of stencils for repairing game consoles, and all other tools found in previous kits. and smartphones, choose a set of equipment or find out What are laptop repair tools or you need a PC, you can in our online store.
