Do these solder joints look like they might cause problems? I just bought this two days ago and I am considering exchanging it for one with better joints..
I'm relatively new to electronics so I'm not even sure if they are actually "bad joints" but I would hate to have a problem with them down the road.. I do get a connection using the USB programming port.
Thanks for any advice!
From the first image, it looks like the solder is good. Second image worries me a teensy bit, but it could just be reflections,. As long as visibly inspecting the inner portion of the solder shows good contact between the pin and the board, and giving the port a light wiggle does not produce too much give, you're good.
Fire it up and test it out! Worst case scenario, that looks like a 10 second fix.
A bad joint will look dull and fuzzy, a good joint will look bright and shiny. Second picture lower right looks like a blow hole caused by expanding flux gas. That could need a touch of the iron on it.
Those joints are for mechanical strength principally, and since the connector housing
is soldered in several places its highly unlikely to malfunction even with quite attrocious
soldering!
If worried rework them with a freshly tinned iron briefly, and a touch of rosin or rosin-cored
solder (don't overdo it).
I see these and I wonder, how bad are the joints where I cannot see them?
polymorph:
I see these and I wonder, how bad are the joints where I cannot see them?
Well not very. This is because it is done in an oven with a defined temperature profile so a lot of the variability is taken out. You have to watch the hand inserts because they are soldered by hand but by definition you can see those joints.
Good point.
Being the person that I am, I'd redo those joints. USB connectors get a lot of in-out cycles.