Solder point help please...

**Carpc6280** · 01-21-2007, 07:56 PM

I am making a steering wheel input device, i have the diagram of my car board (thanks CDR) now i need to know where to solder the wire to on this board. I need to use 5 buttons (i dont mind which ones, it has 10 plus buttons to choose from)

This is the front:

This is the back:

**gospeed.racer** · 01-21-2007, 08:03 PM

each of these rounds are a switch contact. So solder one wire to each side of the round, and those 2 wires go to a switch. You will notice all the rounds have one side that goes to a common place- you can use that as a common wire and cut down the amount of wires you will need to run into the switches.

**gospeed.racer** · 01-21-2007, 08:08 PM

here is a quick example of what I am saying- use the black as a common for all the pads (see how it is connected on the board?) and use one wire for each other side of the pad. This shows 3 switches, your almost there!

**Carpc6280** · 01-21-2007, 08:09 PM

is there not an easier way? i'd like to only use 6 wires if possible. thanks for quick reply btw.

**gospeed.racer** · 01-21-2007, 08:09 PM

see above

**Carpc6280** · 01-21-2007, 08:10 PM

so wire directly to the switches not to the solders on the board?

**Carpc6280** · 01-21-2007, 08:12 PM

what amp rating should the wires have?

**gospeed.racer** · 01-21-2007, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Carpc6280

so wire directly to the switches not to the solders on the board?

I would go to the pad that I circled, thats why I took the time to circle it and repost it. To make it clear. IF you were to try to solder to the connections on the board, you would need to uncover the board where the black dots are, and chances are you would need a magnifying glass to see what your doing.

As far as wire guage, it shouldnt be very particular, say 22 or larger. Its not a high power circuit.

**Carpc6280** · 01-21-2007, 08:17 PM

In my local car shop they have a 5 amp cable, no idea what the gauge is on it. its about the same thickness as the power cables from an atx power supply to the m/b

**gospeed.racer** · 01-21-2007, 08:23 PM

well, we go by guage, never heard of wire rated by amps....but anyway...

See the wires that come into the unit from USB? That is the biggest that would be required- not that you couldnt use bigger but it wouldnt do any good (or bad). Slightly smaller is fine too. It really doesnt matter as you are just opening and closing a circuit- resistance wont be a big deal.