Thread: My idea for a Laptop Switch for my MKIV Jetta. Can this work?!?

Dude go to radio shack, and ask them for the smallest damn wire they sell. Tell them you are trying to repair a trace on a circuit board. They will think you are modding and xbox, but will get you the size wire that you need. It is super super small. 18 gauge is too small. The jumper trick worked right didn't it?

I meant that 18 gauge was too big not too small my bad!!

Also you had better try a much smaller gauge of solder as well. They sell it in small diameters for precision soldering which is what you are trying to do. Also you don't need a very hot soldering iron they come in different wattages. If your soldering iron is huge you might want to spend the $8.00 at radio shack and get a small iron with less heat.

Damn I am a fool.. I should of known it was too big no wonder I ****ed my whole laptop up with that and the solder. i have the $8.00 solder iron from radio shack but seems to be eating itself at the tip.

Thanks for the advice. I will get the smaller stuff on try #2.

Now my next question is what type of relay do i need? a 5VDC? When it comes to relays I am clueless.

You can always file the tip down too. it wont last very long if you do but jsut keep it for fiddly little jobs like this.

Also get solder sucker to clean up any large blobs of solder.

EDIT: I would give compaq a call and see if they can send you a spare switch board.

Also, for doinf small jobs liek that try one of those mini instant heat battery powered irons - they are not supposed to be much good for large jobs but might be perfect for that kind of thing.

Originally Posted by studly_steve007

I'm in a similar place, trying to get my laptop to boot automatically but I've got Wake on LAN support, is there any chance you can point me in the direction of wot to do next to get Wake On LAN into a switch??

if you read the other thread like this you will see why i and others doubt it can be done. You need to send a special signal to the LAN port which is very hard to do and i don't hav a clue how!

On desktops it is easy to do as you bypass the NIC and go direct to the mobo WON connector.

Sorry it's not good news!

If you put just a tiny bit of solder on the tip of the iron it will keep the iron from melting away. I mean a tiny bit. What I do is put a bit of solder on the tip, and then wipe the tip with a wet sponge this is fairly standard procedure. With a little solder on the tip the heat will transfer to what you are soldering on much better because it makes a better connection. For really small spots like what you are working on I "wet the tip" with solder like i described and wipe it off. Then I touch the soldering iron to the board where I want to connect my wire we are trying to heat the board because that is where you want the solder to stick. Next add a small dab of solder to the board (don't even wory about the wire just yet). As soon as that small dab of solder goes liquid and pools to the board pull the iron away, and let this small lump of solder cool. Now grab the wire in one hand and the iron in the other. Touch the lump of solder until it goes liquid again, and push the wire in the small lump. Pull the iron away, and you have it. If this is an unneccary lesson in Soldering you can just give me a shutup newbie, and I will go away. I figure that too much information is better than too little. GOOD LUCK.

Originally Posted by mwh350

If you put just a tiny bit of solder on the tip of the iron it will keep the iron from melting away. I mean a tiny bit. What I do is put a bit of solder on the tip, and then wipe the tip with a wet sponge this is fairly standard procedure. With a little solder on the tip the heat will transfer to what you are soldering on much better because it makes a better connection. For really small spots like what you are working on I "wet the tip" with solder like i described and wipe it off. Then I touch the soldering iron to the board where I want to connect my wire we are trying to heat the board because that is where you want the solder to stick. Next add a small dab of solder to the board (don't even wory about the wire just yet). As soon as that small dab of solder goes liquid and pools to the board pull the iron away, and let this small lump of solder cool. Now grab the wire in one hand and the iron in the other. Touch the lump of solder until it goes liquid again, and push the wire in the small lump. Pull the iron away, and you have it. If this is an unneccary lesson in Soldering you can just give me a shutup newbie, and I will go away. I figure that too much information is better than too little. GOOD LUCK.

YOUR INFORMAITON IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
THANK YOU!

I went to radio shack tonite and picked up a new tip and .22 solder. Also chose to go with banana plugs for the connections and a monetary switch to complete the circuit. Hopefully this helps.

I also swapped out my broken power switch laptop for this one:


So now i have a fresh laptop to start with again. My first action of business is to see if a docking station is made for this model. THat way I won't ruin this laptop.

It is currently 7:45 in the morning and I just got finished with my laptop power switch install.

The hardest part was the soldering points. The whole process took 6.5 hours. I have both wires on banana jacks and banana plugs going to a momentary push button switch to simulate what is going to happen in the car.

Obviously i dont need the 12v from the rear fog switch to turn on the laptop now, so no need to stress that anymmore. I am going to mount the push button under the steering whell column. Should be nice and discreet.

Next, I have the screen issue as I don't know if I want to keep the OEM headunit in there or take it out and go for a in dash display. Pleanty of time to decide that.

Finally, thank you to everybody who helped. It took me the courage and guts to take apart the laptop and TRY to solder! Thanks again