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My old method for finding tiny solder bridges was driving me crazy

For years I'd just squint at the board under a bright lamp, but last Tuesday a friend showed me his $50 USB microscope hooked to a laptop. I tried it on a Nintendo Switch board and spotted three bridges I'd completely missed, saving me probably an hour of headache. What's your go-to tool for spotting those nearly invisible faults?
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3 Comments
tyler_wilson
Always thought those scopes were overkill until I saw a bridge clear as day.
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jones.anna
jones.anna1mo agoMost Upvoted
My buddy Dave was convinced his board was haunted by cold joints until he caved and got a loupe. He found a single strand of wire, thinner than a hair, shorting two pins he'd checked ten times. The relief on his face was something else.
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mark_thomas
That USB microscope trick is a total game changer, right? I was the same way, just trusting my eyes and a big desk lamp until I borrowed one for a reflow job. Suddenly all those hazy maybe-bridges were obvious. Now I won't even start a repair without one plugged in. What magnification do you usually run at for that kind of work?
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