Fix broken fan connector

내 문제

When I opened my Mac Mini in order to add a new SSD to the existing hard drive, even if I pulled the fan connect with the right movement, one of the blade (it's a pin, but it's shaped as a blade, really thin) of the connectors bended.

While trying to mend it, it broke. After thinking a bit, I removed/broke all the others pins cleanly.

The pad were left on the board, so that I could solder some tiny cable and cut the fan's cable to connect it straight.

While connecting the original fan, I messed up in the pinout, and the fan's burned.

That's why I had to order a new one.

나의 수리

When I received the new fan, I firstly noted carefully the pinout, then simply cut the cable and get on with the soldering of the cable of the fans onto the small cable I had already soldered to the mother board.

내 조언

The tricky part is that the MacMini is really really tight, so you have to choose your cables carefully in order to put everything back together.

As I mentioned, I basically created a new cable for the fan. If I had to do it again, I would put a way to dismount it.

At the moment, if I need to disassemble the computer, I need to desolder my cable which is *REALLY* cumbersome. But hey, how often do you open theses things anyway ? :)

Tips: To work in peace, fill the bowl of the cat...

Sorry no picture on this one, I really needed the computer so I did everything as fast as I could.