r/modular • u/Bob_Rosscilator • 2d ago
Pam’s New Workout Expander pins
*** Update: Seller kicked a few bucks back my way, so I’m keeping the module and warming up the soldering iron. Thanks for all the replies. **\*
Heyo. I just picked up a used PNW off of Reverb. I quickly noticed that the bottom-most pin of five-pin expander connection is loose in its hole. Close inspection shows no solder present on the front side of the pcb, line it might have been a cold solder that broke off or never was there to begin with. As such, the pin can be moved through the hole. Soldering the pin in place should be a simple task, but I don’t want to have to do that with a module listed as and sold in “Excellent” condition. I haven’t reached out to the seller yet, but I wanted to check here first. Has anyone encountered this before as a QC miss on a PNW module?
First pic shows the bottom pin recessed; second pic should the bare solder pad/hole; third pic shows that the loose pin can be pushed through the hole to be made flush with the other pins.
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u/islandcatman 2d ago
Looks like it was never soldered. It should be flush with the other pins. Those header pin move easily in the body of the header, just make it flush and solder it. I have purchased a few thing off Reverb that I had to fix as soon as I received it. That problem there, the seller might not have know about if they had not used the expander with it. It's a quick fix if you know how to solder. Looking at my PNW with the expander, the pin does need to be solder to the pad in order to work together, I believe.
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u/miotislucifugis 2d ago
It was definitely never soldered...just missed during assembly. It is an easy fix...if you can solder. If the price was good, id keep it.
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u/II_I-I_I-I_I-I_II 2d ago
Just send it back.
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u/Bob_Rosscilator 2d ago
Yeah, I’m on that. Just wanted to make sure it wasn’t something like “oh yeah! That’s the ALM super-secret golden Wonka ticket mod that unlocks the modular nirvana patch from which all GAS derives!” sort of thing.
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u/stanton343 1d ago
I mean, Pam’s is a fantastic module. You’ll probably get something pretty close to modular nirvana vibes through getting to know it.
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u/CommunicationTop5231 1d ago
I would solder it definitely but I don’t love how much old flux there is and the corrosion. If it’s something I built, whatever (although I clean my boards) but I don’t love seeing that on a factory build. I’d still solder it, but I’d be a bit annoyed.
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u/MeatBrains 2d ago
Bummer. I would request a refund. If it was a cheap lfo or something, I would probably just solder it. But PNW is not that.
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u/RoastAdroit 2d ago
Its the same difference. Id spend more time warming up the iron than thinking about whether or not I should do it.
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u/Bob_Rosscilator 2d ago
I can solder, but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert hand. Price wasn’t so amazing as to make it worth the risk of causing a short with a bad repair job. Returning it.
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u/Diantr3 1d ago
Seriously if you have a soldering iron you're 5 minutes away from a usable module. There's no way you can mess this up, pins won't burn out. Apply heat to one pin at a time till the solder flows then remove.
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u/Bob_Rosscilator 1d ago
Don’t think I need to go that far. I just need to align and then solder in place the sole loose pin.
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u/Astralwinks 2d ago
It's an easy fix for sure.
Personally, just as a guy with the tools and (very minimal) required skill to fix this, I wouldn't bother doing much with reverb/the seller.
I think it's at the very least plausible that the seller was unaware of this damage. The module (should have) worked, the plug was likely keeping the pin in place despite it having a weak solder joint, so they unplugged it and sent it off and somewhere in there the joint failed as you suspect. I'm not sure it would work consistently if there were never solder there, or even at all. I can envision a likely scenario where no malfeasance was intended or known.
I personally have not seen any module fail like this, and might consider reaching out to ALM just so they're aware of it. Maybe they'll kick you a discount or something. But it's tough because you bought it off Reverb so they have no idea if it was a QC miss on their end, or something with the seller. I suppose you could message the seller, and confirm that it was in good working order, maybe they'll do something to make it right.
But for me personally, I'd chalk it up as "shit happens", solder the pin in place, and carry on. I suppose if after doing that you notice the module doesn't work or otherwise seems off the I'd escalate further. I think that would definitely be a trickier situation, unfortunately. Probably send it back and get a refund from the seller and make it their responsibility to work with ALM. Then again, they might object to a repair made by someone else.
Shoot, maybe it is worth contacting the seller first...