You may find better help and answers to your impossible questions on www.electronicspoints.com. They have crystal balls and are a great bunch of volunteers willing to guide you.
There are many aspects to troubleshooting and repairing electronic circuits it is sometimes called "organized chaos".
For me usually its :
Don't know why you arrive at this conclusion..............which way is "backwards"..??
All wonderful for those who want to be electronic technicians (or even exceed that skill level) or engineers.
Thanks for the advice. It doesn't really apply to me and my specific situation, but thanks anyway.
I apologize if my methods or wording do not make sense to you. I wasn't really trying to be all that specific.
My POV on 'practical' is actually DOING something rather than endlessly discussing it in what seems to be a manner of trying to shorten the learning process or bypass it by some mysterious way. It can't be done.
No one has to take anything I say with any credence whatsoever. I offer my decades of experience 'free of charge' for those who care to take advantage of such hard-gained knowledge. People can feel free to ignore it and continue in ignorance if they wish.
No apology necessary - if you browse this forum you will see many, many other valuable contributions from other forum members - with records of thousands and thousands of posts containing 'free' advice - who also had to take the 'application of theory' or 'years of experience' route in order to be able to make such contributions. We have no axe to grind with anyone of any level of experience (or not) and treat everyone with respect - until they stretch our patience with repeated questions that appear to show their lack of understanding or a plain refusal to acknowledge or act on the advice given.
That isn't usually a problem except where we run out of angles to respond - and yet the questions keep coming. This thread must have run its course a loooong time ago (not your first approach on the subject matter either and, IIRC, we had the same results last time).
Mr Young. I am a perfect example of what it sounds like you are trying to become, which may be just a little bit more versed in electronics component testing and electronics troubleshooting. Nothing "career-wise," but just curiosity at this point and possibly the feelings of accomplishment.
Good Post.Mr Young. I am a perfect example of what it sounds like you are trying to become, which may be just a little bit more versed in electronics component testing and electronics troubleshooting. Nothing "career-wise," but just curiosity at this point and possibly the feelings of accomplishment.
I started doing my own electronics stuff about 15 years ago, when I had a computer monitor start acting up. I began a bit of research, and determined others had had the same issue. The entire problem came down to a couple of electrolytic capacitors in the power supply section of the circuit board. I thought electronics components would be wildly expensive, based on electronics technician repair costs. I was astonished to find out that wasn't the case, and that electronics components are very inexpensive. I replaced those capacitors for a grand total of about $2 back then and fired it back up. The monitor was back in business. In fact, I still use it today and am using it right now to write this. It was manufactured in March of 2006, based on the Information Tag on the back. A Samsung 244T.
My success with the monitor led me on a path that has since given me much more experience in electronics repair. Not near as much as what the guys here have, and I will never be at that level, but this is the place I come to when I have questions. I can usually get the information I need to keep trying to fix whatever it is I am working on, or to take a suggestion from someone to just "bin it." I have a hard time taking that latter advice, though, because I am looking for success, not defeat. I don't always win though. And I don't know if all of my posts are still here or not, but I have been back here quite a bit for things that challenge me. From more complex switch mode power supplies, to ac to dc power supplies like USB phone chargers, to radio control transmitters, to car electronics components, and a lot of other things in between. I have tried and fixed a whole bunch of things so far. In some cases, I even feel confident enough to provide others that ask questions here with some limited guidance. I make sure, however, to not get over my skill level when I do that.
In the beginning, my troubleshooting skills and the equipment I had to test things were minimal. Since then, I have amassed quite a few electronic components and testers and have probably thousands of resistors, capacitors, diodes, LED's, transistors, Triacs, Diacs, Mosfets, etc., because once I come across something I need but don't have, I usually get a compliment of them in various sizes "for the next time."
I guess the point of my reply is to assure you the guys here are quite knowledgeable about what they offer to us (for free), and sometimes their senses of humor or their bluntness may not be taken as they intended. Sometimes, though, it is, when it gets "pushed." It appears you have come here seeking knowledge, so let them give it to you. Even I am surprised at the lengths they will go to let you and I and others know that.
Your first posting in this thread had to do with testing components without removing them from the circuit, and the time involved in doing a lot of them. In most cases, the problem lies in a specific portion of the board, and only a few components need to be checked, that is why one of the "gurus" mentioned "experience" when knowing what to test. I don't think you ever let us know what you were working on. Did you? If not, why not? Take a chance and see. Tell us what it is by make and model number, take good pictures of the circuit board(s), tell us what it is or is not doing, and see what happens. It doesn't cost you anything but a bit of your time, and it may lead to something like what I have found to be, and that is a hobbyist style interest in electronics components and repair and you may also get whatever it is you are talking about fixed, rather than adding it to the landfill. Lets see what you have.
Unfortunately, with electronics repair and troubleshooting, when compared to repairing plumbing issues, the similarities end quickly. In a plumbing repair, the problems are usually obvious upon visual inspection and typically determined without specialized test equipment. Electronics repair is completely opposite of that. Occasionally, you may find a problem visually, like a burnt resistor, blown fuse, or a bulging capacitor, but the task afterward is to find the reason why a component failed. Some fail just due to age, and some have failure reasons that are just not discoverable without the training and equipment needed to follow a logical and experienced path.
Quite the opposite is true. In my experience here, when you ask questions about a specific electronic component, or repair, there are usually many educated replies or directions to take afterward. After re-reading all of the comments in this thread, however, I do see where it appears you would rather have DIY Electronics Troubleshooting and Repair be as simple as installing plumbing parts. I would like that, too.
I can assure you, having done both of those things, there is just no comparison. For simple concepts, that "spiral method" works well. Electronics repair is often a multitude of combined "cores" attached together to complete one larger spiral. Simply using your spiral learning process doesn't work as well here. Too many "spirals," with too many "cores," if you will. There are many things that all of those cores combined together do that make the end product useful. Understanding each of those cores, and how they interact with each other, takes a lot of time and experience to understand, and even I know that, being a novice at what I do. Again, using your DIY Plumbing example, the plumbing challenge is straight forward and easy to follow. Not so with trying to troubleshoot a printed circuit board, especially if there are multiple layers to the board and a lot of components to check, as you mentioned in your initial posting, especially if you have no idea as to where to start.
Great explanation on the equivalence between DIY home plumbing and DIY home electronics. You grasped my question and answeredUnfortunately, with electronics repair and troubleshooting, when compared to repairing plumbing issues, the similarities end quickly. In a plumbing repair, the problems are usually obvious upon visual inspection and typically determined without specialized test equipment. Electronics repair is completely opposite of that. Occasionally, you may find a problem visually, like a burnt resistor, blown fuse, or a bulging capacitor, but the task afterward is to find the reason why a component failed. Some fail just due to age, and some have failure reasons that are just not discoverable without the training and equipment needed to follow a logical and experienced path.
Having just comparable DIY skills in electronics repair and troubleshooting would limit you to changing batteries, or replacing fuses. These things are fairly simple and would require only minimal skills and equipment, like the multimeter you said you now have. If that is simply the level you are after, you sound as if you would be there already, and it also sounds as if you are fine with that. That's good, too.
Quite the opposite is true. In my experience here, when you ask questions about a specific electronic component, or repair, there are usually many educated replies or directions to take afterward. After re-reading all of the comments in this thread, however, I do see where it appears you would rather have DIY Electronics Troubleshooting and Repair be as simple as installing plumbing parts. I would like that, too.
When I initiate an electronics repair, it is almost always for something I own. I don't do work for others, just because of the liability factor that comes with electricity and the possibilities of catastrophic failures if something would go wrong. I will take the chance for me, but not for anyone else. I have before, but it is rare and I make sure the risk is minimal.
For simple concepts, that "spiral method" works well. Electronics repair is often a multitude of combined "cores" attached together to complete one larger spiral. Simply using your spiral learning process doesn't work as well here. Too many "spirals," with too many "cores," if you will. There are many things that all of those cores combined together do that make the end product useful. Understanding each of those cores, and how they interact with each other, takes a lot of time and experience to understand, and even I know that, being a novice at what I do. Again, using your DIY Plumbing example, the plumbing challenge is straight forward and easy to follow. Not so with trying to troubleshoot a printed circuit board, especially if there are multiple layers to the board and a lot of components to check, as you mentioned in your initial posting, especially if you have no idea as to where to start.
My last comment would be for you not to sour on the experienced techs here based on their comments, but just know these guys will help if you come back with specific questions about a specific issue. Electronics repair is fun, when a repair is successful, and frustrating as all get out when it's not. A lot of time is seemingly wasted sometimes, but for me, I am always learning something new. Slowly, but at least something anyway.
Good luck, and take care.
LoL...that's a good one...
