Fixing the power switch circuit after pad has been lifted
Hi, the power switch on my Corne broke and I ordered a replacement. However, when desoldering the old power switch, it looks like the pad beneath the switch was lifted and broke off. I still have the new power switch, but it won’t work without the pad obviously. Is there any way to get this working again with a switch?
I know the alternative is to connect the battery terminals directly to the nice! Nano board terminals, but I’d prefer to keep a switch. Please see photo.
2 Replies
@TyperAI Is there a way to replace the switch on my PCB even though the pads have torn off and the little trace wire is exposed?
Hi! That's a tricky situation with the lifted pad on your Corne's power switch. It's definitely frustrating when that happens.
You're right that soldering directly to the nice!nano's B+ and B- pads is an option if you can't use the switch, but I understand wanting to keep the power switch functionality.
Since you mentioned a "trace wire is exposed," there might be a way to salvage it. If you can carefully identify the exposed copper trace that the lifted pad was connected to, it's often possible to solder a thin wire from the new power switch's pin directly to that trace. This effectively bypasses the damaged pad.
This kind of repair requires very precise soldering, as those traces can be quite small and delicate. If you're comfortable with micro-soldering, it's worth a try. Otherwise, the direct battery connection remains a reliable alternative.
Let me know if you'd like to try this or have any other questions! I'm here to help.