Topic: UA-5 DIY Mod Jumper wire Question

[johnw]

What would be the ideal gauge wire to make the jumper out of? Telephone (what Traderdave used) is 24-28 right? Would 30 be too small? Would 22 be too large? Are most people just ripping up phone cords?  

[rabhan]

i used a strand of cat5 cable.

[ChrisV]

Figure I'd finally come out of lurking since I plan on doing the same thing when I get mine soon.    So I'd too love to hear the suggestions on which gauge wire to use for that.

Also...which way would you guys recommend on doing the other step?  Cutting the trace, or by removing the resistor?

[Ed.]

just get a thin wire, any gauge will work if you ask me.  you're gonna be soldering it to a little trace tho, so if you're using 4 guage wire, its gonna be a lot harder.  does that make sense?

i wouldn't remove the resistor.  if you just cut the trace, you can (with some practice) solder the trace back together and have the ua-5 work like normal again.

if you've never soldered before...practice!  my first soldering project was my xbox and messed that up so bad it wouldn't even turn on.  however, i was relentless and worked on it nonstop for like 3 days and finally got it to work like normal again along with the mod.  but i was really worried for those 3 days.  its not a fun feeling to have.

ed

[dklein]

Traces can be repaired with a conductive pen too.  I recently used on to fix up a burnt out trace on a UA-5.

[BJ]

I tore up an old phone cord for mine.  I did plan on using a strand of cat5, but once i got inside and noticed how SMALL everything actually was, I felt like the cat5 maybe a little to heavy, so I went smaller. I am sure both would work, but if you are not great at soldering, I would choose a lighter gauge, so you don't try to put too much solder and end up messing your board up.

[mirth]

Cat5 & Cat3/silver tend to be the same AWG... usually 24, unless its really crappy cable.

[fozzy]

i used a stiff piece of cat5, not the braided type.  made it into a U shape.  soldered the right side while holding the wire w/ some needle nose pliers.  Then did a little bending so the left side was directly on the spot and hit it w/ a little flux and some solder.

be sure to tin you wires and I also recommend using a "electroinic safe" flux (liquid or paste).

[Ed.]

flux is great, it'll make the solder stick to the board without any hassle.  definitely a must have when soldering.

[johnw]

Thanks for all the suggestions!