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Apple's 2012 first-generation 7.9-inch iPad mini, with 16, 32, or 64 GB of storage and an A5 processor.

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Replacing FPC Digitizer Connector

Greetings!

Finally its happened to me - I broke 2 golden pins of the digitizer connector on the logic board.

I'd like to replace it and I dont have soldering experience of parts that small.

Fortunately I have a dead board to train on.

The question is: how to replace it not removing the whole logic board?

Removing the board drives me nuts!

I see that removal of the connector is quite straightforward since you can sacrifice the connector itself - all videos I found just use soldering iron.

So I'd like to know how to put the new one.

I found a video where the connector is replaced using soldering iron with really small tip - they did it not taking the board out. It looks feasible, but you need to be Jedi not to break the connector.

My question is are there other alternatives? For example, is it possible to use a heatgun, but place it above the board? (I've seen videos with a heatgun, but they place it below the board, so it needs to be taken out). Is it possible to use anything else (infrared lamp)?

Thanks!

Answer this question I have this problem too

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Maaaah, " how to replace it not removing the whole logic board?" you don't. If you need to replace the connector, you will have to remove the board for a proper repair. There is no substitute for soldering the connector. Heatguns are to unreliable and may melt parts of the connector before it melts the solder, same with IR etc. Sometimes trying to come up with shortcuts will only damage things further.

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Hm, I asked not just for fun, but because I found the video. Please see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXmklvB0O... .

by

But your point about IR and heatguns taken, thank you!

by

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After trying 2 companies to get a 'new' LCD replacement (sent damaged and used both times) and my ipad being opened up for several weeks, finally, I too, damaged the digitizer connector (two pins came off) on the board after connecting/disconnecting LCD and digitizer too many times. Needless to say i'm just !#^&@@ and the other company and ifixit for sending me used, damaged garbage.

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Is this the "part of the digitizer won't work but the rest does" issue?

I've come up with a way to repair rather than replace the connector, you need some very very fine (50ga) wire which is tinned and soldered only where the pins are missing as a bridge. You don't want to short any traces together doing this but it should be fine as long as no-one tries to change the touchscreen badly.

This iPad also has the infamous "U2" problem (some phool plugged it into a car adaptor by the looks of it) but that isn't terminal and can be worked around.

I actually got it to charge using external power but this isn't a long term fix.

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Hi! Can you solve this? I have the same trouble here. I'm afraid of replace it and broke another thing.

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Maaaah will be eternally grateful.
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