how to trace a circuit board (tips, suggestions, video links welcome)

[vijayp]

Dear community members.

I am an absolute beginner in electronics and have been studying (doing a course in India) on "How to repair PCBs. The focus of my learning is SMPS (RO boards, DTH, laptop ps etc.

All though I can test and identify faulty components like, fuse, diodes, capacitors, transistors, MOSFET and Bridge rectifiers, I am struggling with tracing the components and (coming up with a schematic diagram on the whiteboard.

In simple PCBs, I can complete the input section, and connection from STR or a Power IC, but cannot complete the entire schematic diagram from start to finish.

Any tips, suggestions or link to a video would be greatly appreciated.

Please use my email for communication [mod edit: E-mail removed to protect privacy. Please post answers here or use PM (conversation) to contact the op]

Looking forward to hearing from experienced members who would have faced this challenge when they entered the world of chip level repairing.

Best,
VP

 

[Martaine2005]

I’m afraid there isn’t a fast track route.
As you said “experienced “ is the key word here.
Keep practicing and studying and practicing and studying and practicing and studying……….
But I do have some advice. The data sheets for IC’s have plenty of information including circuit diagrams of typical IC use and layout.
Your lack of knowledge tells me that you shouldn’t be playing with SMPS yet.
Watch as many videos as possible and practice and study and practice and study!.
It will SLOWLY become easier.

 

[ahsrabrifat]

Dear community members.

I am an absolute beginner in electronics and have been studying (doing a course in India) on "How to repair PCBs. The focus of my learning is SMPS (RO boards, DTH, laptop ps etc.

All though I can test and identify faulty components like, fuse, diodes, capacitors, transistors, MOSFET and Bridge rectifiers, I am struggling with tracing the components and (coming up with a schematic diagram on the whiteboard.

In simple PCBs, I can complete the input section, and connection from STR or a Power IC, but cannot complete the entire schematic diagram from start to finish.

Any tips, suggestions or link to a video would be greatly appreciated.

Please use my email for communication [mod edit: E-mail removed to protect privacy. Please post answers here or use PM (conversation) to contact the op]

Looking forward to hearing from experienced members who would have faced this challenge when they entered the world of chip level repairing.

Best,
VP

For PCB troubleshooting, you have to test the PCB with a multimeter. If you have the circuit diagram, you need to check all the traces to see if there is any trace broken. You also need to check all the consecutive points to see if there is an accidental short circuit.

 

[Delta Prime]

If you have the circuit diagram,

The OP cannot read schematics, nor create or generate one…

In simple PCBs, I can complete the input section, and connection from STR or a Power IC, but cannot complete the entire schematic diagram from start to finish

Don’t be shy

I can complete the input section, and connection from STR or a Power IC

You must show “US” what you have completed, please.
So “WE” all know where your struggling & help you best.

 

[Kabelsalat]

Just to add into this - It's advisable for OP to also try to tell about the choice of methods, software and tools being used. As is now, there isn't really much to give advises into since we don't know anything about the process and thinking of OP when doing that.

One general advice - you may not want to spend a lot of time drawing everything. E.g I had an old motion detector from the '90s and the only thing I needed to make it work (did not come with any documentation/paper) was to figure what wires goes to power supply and what wires goes to output contact. I could make the whole schematic, but I need to have time for that and get the right spirit first

 

[poormystic]

Hi
I believe that only a relatively few human beings can readily comprehend a circuit board by looking at it and turning it over to look at it again.
Those people's brains are made differently to mine, especially in the matter of their visual memories.

(It will always astonish me, and, I suspect you, just how different people's experiences of reality are.)

 

[Delta Prime]

It will always astonish me, and, I suspect you, just how different people's experiences of reality are.)

If you have the ability early in one’s life to notice the similarities rather than differences,you would not need to contemplate this subject in the later years of one’s life.
While we may experience the same stimuli or” reality” (e.g., seeing a sunset, hearing a song), our brains interpret & process this information differently based on our unique individual experience of our beliefs, values , our culture, in the way you were brought up as children by your parents, shaping how we form our interpretation of our sensory inputs.

 

[poormystic]

If you have the ability early in one’s life to notice the similarities rather than differences,you would not need to contemplate this subject in the later years of one’s life.
While we may experience the same stimuli or” reality” (e.g., seeing a sunset, hearing a song), our brains interpret & process this information differently based on our unique individual experience of our beliefs, values , our culture, in the way you were brought up as children by your parents, shaping how we form our interpretation of our sensory inputs.

Yes, that's right.
I remember looking for the little bird singing in the tree, while my companion (a sniper) watched the same bird feeding, later describing the little black tongue flicking in and out of a blossom.
It really was astonishing to me.