this is embarasing but ive been at this for like two hours. trying to solder my Rushfpv Tank VTX power wires to the FC's dedicated VTX pads and the solder just will not stick. it blobs up and then when i tug the wire slightly it just pops right off. the pad looks kind of shiny but not in a good way if that makes sense.

i'm using a TS100 at around 340C and 63/37 rosin core solder, which i thought was decent. tinned the wire first and that went fine. but when i go to the pad itself it just acts weird. i did accidentally touch the iron to the pad for maybe too long a couple times because i was frustrated and now im worried i maybe lifted it or something. its still there visually but the solder isnt bonding

do i just need more flux or is the pad actually damaged at this point

sounds like a cold joint or a contaminated pad. when you say shiny but not in a good way that usually means either the pad got oxidized from heat cycling or theres some flux residue from a previous attempt that got burnt and is now acting as a barrier. grab some isopropyl alcohol, 90%+ ideally, and clean the pad before you try again. let it dry fully.

also 340 on a TS100 can be a bit low depending on your tip condition ? if the tip is older and not tinning well anymore you end up dwelling longer than you should which just murders pads. bump to 360-370 and be decisive about it, heat the pad for a second, touch the solder to the pad not the iron, and pull away clean. if the pad is actually lifted youll see it flex when you poke it gently with the iron tip, and at that point its a different problem

flux. always more flux. people underestimate this constantly. get a flux pen or a little jar of paste flux and apply it directly to the pad before you touch it with the iron, it makes a genuinely insane difference. also +1 on cleaning first, burnt flux from multiple attempts is probably your issue here and no amount of technique fixes that until the surface is clean