⟐ Answer edited September 23, 2025 at 14:47 MST

I have bought a double row LED strip featuring one row of cool white and one warm white LEDs. I am intending to build a grow case for my carnivorous plants.

The case has 4 shelves and each shelf has 4 strips of a dual row (warm & cool white) rigid LED strip. Each strip uses 8W meaning each shelf will use 32W. Times 4 the whole cabinet will draw 128W

I have bought the following transformer:

Aluminum Shell 12V 300W Rain Proof Transformer Outdoor LED Power Supply Driver

I am wondering if I should wire the strips in parallel or in series. Each strip has two negatives and one positive. I was intending to wire each shelf in series then combine all the the cables into one which will be wired into the transformer. Would this work?? I have tried to find videos on wiring this type of strip, but I cannot find anything at all. Any video I could find is on flexible strips with one positive and one negative connection. Also what thickness of wire should I use? Any help is massively appreciated!

Nadja

Photos attached!

⟐ Answered August 21, 2025 at 1:10 MST

⟐ Answer edited July 11, 2025 at 17:12 MST

⟐ Commented December 09, 2024 at 9:26 MST

I ordered a pair with loupes, a few months off Amazon, they didn't have an adjustable focal length, and 2" of space between my nose and a hot iron ain't gonna fly. ;)

I was looking at something like this on Amazon : Eschenbach MXDT-16245-01

It would be nice to find a pair, at a reasonable price, with 10x+ magnification and a minimum focal distance of say 2'.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

⟐ Commented November 17, 2024 at 11:36 MST

I've recently gotten into soldering, but don't really have much in bank right now to spend on a decent iron.

My two options that i've looked into are as follows:

PINECIL V2: I am leaning towards this due to it's relatively cheap price, good interface, and good performance (its 60 CAD where I am)

Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station: This one im not entirely leaning towards as it's too expensive for me and lacks portability. It would be nice to have, but I'm not sure if its a valid choice.

I'd preferr to have something relatively mid-high end for under $200, any suggestions? Which one out of the two should I go with?

⟐ Answered October 04, 2024 at 1:02 MST

If there is any that offers them I would be glad.

⟐ Answered January 22, 2024 at 6:39 MST

Is this mat heat resistant as I will need to be soldering and reflowing components.

……..Alternatively.. the special phone repair mats (NOT iFixit branded(see picture attached)) that are supplied with the sections for placing components (these are identified as ESD but not supplied with a grounding socket…. Are these ESD safe or falsely advertised.

Many thanks

Paul

⟐ Commented October 11, 2023 at 7:59 MST

So i'm looking to repair my USB DAC because it does not receive power unless the USB port is pushed in a certain direction. So I'm thinking that the solder points have broken.

I have taken it apart, however looking at the back and wobbling the connection I don't see any movement, so I *think* that the solder between the port and the connection point is whats broken, but due to other things on the PCB I can't get a good look (and it doesn't wobble much, theres 2 connections holding it in place so the other must still be good, probably wobbles maybe 0.5mm either way, but apparently thats enough to cause a disconnect from the pins). It could also be a pad, i'm not 100% sure.

So keeping in mind that I'm a complete begginer, and my limited supplies (I haven't ever soldered anything before, I only have a soldering station and some solder, no flux or any other equipment) what should I try? Should I just stick a soldering iron on the presumably broken joint and get it to hopefully re-solidify in the right way for it to fix my USB port and maintain contact with the pins? I have a small budget for this, $50 AUD if I need to get more supplies, any more then that and i'd rather just get a new DAC as it was just a bit over 100 AUD.

⟐ Answer accepted October 02, 2023 at 2:17 MST

I am going to be starting to solder, and my goal is to become good at microsoldering on iphone, ipads, and other devices that require battery replacements, soldering pads, FCP connectors

What does everyone recommend for starting wise such as a microscope, hot station, soldering methods, etc?

I really am excited to get started ! Please help

⟐ Answer accepted October 01, 2023 at 21:59 MST

⟐ Answer accepted October 01, 2023 at 21:59 MST

Recently I have been doing some research into micro soldering and would like to give it ago.

What equipment should i look at getting and what do I need to take into account.

Any advice would be great .

Thank you

⟐ Answer accepted October 01, 2023 at 21:59 MST

How different are they when it comes to performance?

Ive seen some good reviews on this model:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Derui-Stainless...

How do crest products perform better considering almost 10x price difference?

⟐ Answer accepted October 01, 2023 at 21:59 MST

⟐ Answer accepted September 30, 2023 at 22:02 MST

My supplier currently has a very good price for a set of FM-203 with 2027 soldering iron and micro tweezers, thinking of buying it.

What do you guys think?

⟐ Answer accepted September 30, 2023 at 22:02 MST

ue where to re solder them to.

⟐ Answer accepted September 30, 2023 at 22:02 MST

I really need some help.

I bought a collectors statue from North America and shipped to Mentone, Victoria.

The statue requires assembly and has LED light display throughout.

Part of the assembly is connecting parts to the slot in the base of the statue.

The slot has a connector which has 1 broken prong and obviously does not allow the top half of the statue to light up.

The statue takes 6 AA batteries at the rear of the base and the broken metal connector that connects to the top half of the statue is in the center slot.

Please see attached photos and please if anyone can tell me who can repair the broken connector. I have phoned around to many places (phone repair, PC repair) and have hit dead ends.

Can anyone please help. :-(

⟐ Answer accepted September 30, 2023 at 16:34 MST

⟐ Commented March 02, 2023 at 17:26 MST

Has anyone had experience with an alternative to Hakko they're comfortable with? I'm in the process of returning a Yihua station (8786 I think it was) now - the temps were so far off it was unusable and trying to get service was impossible.

I am looking at Aixun gear and they seem to have excellent reviews. Service is a concern though.

Any suggestions out there?

Thanks,

DMF

Thanks so much to all who took the time on Super Bowl Sunday to answer the new guy’s question(s). Keep the comments coming, soaking everything up.

No disrespect to anyone who has responded - I’ve been reading and skimming over the various topics that might provide insight and I’ve seen so many answers from @oldturkey03 i was hoping he would contribute. I was not disappointed!

Again, thanks to all and please, keep the suggestions coming. The initial answer with the list of alternate gear had several I have not heard of - so please, keep those replies coming.

I did forget to ask about one brand - X-Tronic. Any thoughts on their gear? I see them a lot on Amazon, but have not seen any comments from users.

Thanks again,

Dennis

⟐ Commented February 20, 2023 at 23:53 MST

⟐ Answer accepted January 18, 2023 at 11:23 MST