Sudden Death and oven reflow: Navigating a post-warranty salvage of FP3(+) motherboards

Great insights, NickNougat!
Concerning the use of the heatgun without heatplate, your proposition makes sense.

I must now let you know about my first oven reflow attempt on a test device (FP3+).

I regret to report that it was a failure.

I purchased it as is some months ago, presumed victim of a sudden death. Tested plugging in. Tested with other modules. No reaction at all.

After thorough disassembly, here is the protocol:


12 min @ 200°C (command temperature, not measured)

05 min @ 230°C (command temperature, not measured)

I heard some noise coming out of the device, some sizzling/popping noise.
11 min cooldown in oven with door open.


10 min cooldown out of oven.

The device was lukewarm when I touched it. It was visibly discolored.
I observed something on the tray when I took it out of the oven (some component? I couldn’t find where it was supposed to be).

No reaction to being plugged in as a test with only the bottom module (which is functional, the writing on the module is just an identifier).

I tried it again this time with a bit longer spike. Nothing, again.

Maybe the ramp period was too long. I am not familiar with that model of oven, so I thought the light indicated pre-heating. I wanted to make sure the oven was indeed at 200°C before going ahead. But it just meant it was turned on.

I’m pretty disappointed with that result.

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