Question about upgrades (Page 1 of 4)

Where to start
Actually lawsy's MK 4 or 5 is a simple upgrade and you will most certainly need it.  That acrylic doesn't like to be taken apart.  Due to the age of your printer you may or may not have a Bootloader on the Sang board.  If you do and are willing to reflash your firmware then I highly recommend an E3d V6 all metal hot end.  The firmware change alone will breath new life into your SD.  If you need more info check the WIKI or feel free to ask more questions.

Several other uses have had no trouble with the stock PSU running the E3d.  I think that is a bit of a crap shoot though.  The problem isn't that the PSU can't handle the additional load rather some of them came with poorly solders wires on the AC input side.  When they get hot the solder would let loose.  Do your LED's flicker at all now?  If not you're probably fine.

Still on the OEM power supply, 2000+ prints in so far. E3Dv6.

You only need to update the firmware if you upgrade to an E3d all metal hot end.

If you haven't ever installed an E3Dv6, you need to update the firmware. The modification is E3Dv6-specific, a recalibration of the thermistor table.

That must be a new record!  Seriously, it seems most people's solidoodles have some serious flaw within 6 months.  Mine had a constantly binding X carriage due to poor tolerance rods, drivers kept overheating, and finally the board burned out due to a poor solder on the power wire.  Ya, I fixed it all and I get good prints now but just be glad you got that long out of it.

And as others have said, with an E3D V6 and a MK 5 mount, you are likely to get even better results.  Good luck.

Well ive ordered a e3d hotend . when I connect to the sd repeiter says firmware version marlin v1.

Im having a bit of trouble updating the firmware. Im not fimilar with arduino at all  I downloaded the firmware that you suggested, but there are many files . Do I need to upload all of them or are there certain ones that I need to upload?

Thank you. Thats what I did but do I need to upload all of the files (that are contained in the zip file) to my sd2 board? And in the arduino program how do I know which broad to select. I recall reading somewhere that the sd2 had 2 different boards? How do I tell which one I have?

do what wardjr tells you to do. He is much more knowledgable than I am (I am still pretty new at this stuff, too), but yes, when you flash the firmware it does upload everything. Yes, it seems intimidating, but trust wardjr, he wont steer you wrong. I know from experience.

just follow the directions you will be given for your board to the "T" - only change what you are told to change and where you are told to change it - and you will be fine.

First off I want to mention that due to the age of your board there is a chance there is no Bootloader.  If that's the case we will know fairly quickly.
The good news is that is a Sanguinololu board and is fairly easy to flash.
Start by downloading and installing  Arduino version 022. 
Second open up arduino then navigate to the location where you saved the firmware I posted earlier via file>open  Then find the file Marlin.pde or marlin.ino and open that up in arduino.  Click on the configuration.h tab this is where you'll make the required max temp and thermistor changes.  You will need to change the board type to Sanguinololu and if that folder isn't available you will need to locate it from the original Marlin folders provided on the SD site and move that hardware folder into the new Marlin.  I think it's already in there though. Then click save>verify and then hit the reset button on your board and click upload.
That's all there is to it.
The WIKI firmware section was written for that board and a lot of the WIKI E3d section will apply.
The assembly instructions on the E3d site are very complete and need to be followed.
Get started and ask specific questions if needed.

Max temp to 300 and thermistor type 5
That should be the only changes you need to make.