G8MNY > TECH 14.04.25 09:00z 158 Lines 7235 Bytes #175 (0) @ WW
BID : 30252_GB7CIP
Subj: Faulting Tips
Path: ED1ZAC<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP
Sent: 250414/0844Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:30252 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : TECH@WW
By G8MNY (Updated Sep 17)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)
When faced with a PCB with 100 components it can be a daunting task to find the
one that has failed especially if there is no circuit diagram.
Here is some tips I have used.
SKILL SET
So you need to use what clues are there, & make some VALID assumptions. Where
there is obvious functional blocks to a device, e.g. PSU, Display, Rx, Tx, etc.
one needs to be able to "read the PCB" & identify the relevant areas. This is
an ever changing skill as components change from the Valve era, to Solid state,
to Chips, LSI, & now SMD (surface mount).
_n_
/" "\
³ ³ _
³ ³ /o\ T05 TO92 IC LSI SMD
³ VALVE ³ //~\\ (_) O .ÚÄ¿. ..
³ ³ ³³TO3³³ ³_³ /|\ :³ ³: :[]: ø & .
³ ³ \\_// /³\ :³ ³: ""
\ / \o/ 'ÀÄÙ'
ÃÄÄÄÄÄ´ ~
ÀÂÂÂÂÂÙ
³³³³³
INSPECTION
As well as reading your away around a device, look out for black marks that
could indicate a burnt out component, any burnt smells? Any smoke, or too hot
parts after it is powered? Also look for pregnant electrolytic, leaking caps,
or discoloured plastic sleeves (has been hot in the past). These may be wrong
in value now & may be the fault, or caused by the fault?
LOGICAL ORDER
I always start with the PSU on most things, as a duff power rail or hummy /
spiky power rail can cause all sort of problems with modern electronics.
Duff capacitors are a primary cause of faults nowadays, with over stressed hot
electrolytics drying out to be less than 1/100 of their original value in just
a few years. N.B. there is no such thing as a high temperature capacitor, only
one that dries out just after the G'tee.
ÚÄÄ´>ÃÄÄÂÄÄÄÄ ³ _ _ ³ _ _
||( ³+ Normal ³/ ""--..__/ ""--.. Fault³/ \ / \ C too small
||( === ³ ³ \ / \ or an
||( ³ ³ ³ \ / \ Overload
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄ ÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
On faulting suspect stages, I again start with the DC circuit, as incorrect DC
will always cause AC problems. Using a scope often means you can check both DC
& AC status at the same time.
SAFETY
With mains circuits there is L>Äo-oÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄ
nothing to beat an isolation fuse )||( Floating
transformer on the mains. or )||( Mains
I have a 1kW Constant Voltage trip )||( Safe to
type that limits current to 5A. )||( Earth
And also a small 150W one. N>ÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄ
With a floating supply I can earth with a scope probe before or after a mains
live bridge rectifier to see what is going on. My transformer also makes a buzz
noise under various load, this is also an instant indication to mains circuit
function.
Remember though that most small scope probes should not be used on the high HF
switching voltages of a SMPSU, because they are not rated at 600V AC @ 50kHz!
Dump large caps with a resistor, as there is always a danger they will still be
charged!
Tape over hazard areas, e.g. exposed live mains fuse etc.
N.B. Earth is a dangerous as live is!
One hand behind the back is also a good safety rule!
CIRCUIT PROTECTION
For circuit protection I often L>ÄÄ 275W ÄÄÄÄÄ¿
use a lamp, or power resistor in lamp kit
series with the supply either, under
@ mains, or on the power rail. test
N>ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
Load )||(
Transformer)||(
Sometime I even use one in )||
series with the collector in ³__Protection
a line out stage or SMPS when ___ Resistor
it likely to blow up another Line or ³/ 47R 30W
transistor or shut down. Pulse Ä¿ ÚÄ´
width )||( ³\e
drive )||( ³
ÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÁÄ
PARALLEL FAULTS
With shorts on power rail or data bus, find which part is at fault can very
difficult. You need to break the circuit if possible, by removing jumpers,
links, or cutting tracks if you have to. This turns the circuit into a
Wheatstone Bridge. Remember ohms law & what may be inside an IC...
_Varing mV__
1A ³ ³
PowerÄÄÂÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÂ By passing a safe current of 1A via
Rail+ 1k 470R _³_ 10R 220R 47R a car stop light lamp, this circuit
³ ³ \_/ ³ ³ ³ will have voltage drop of a few mV
³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ down the +ve track. This will be seen
³ ³ 0R ³ ³ ³ as an increasing maximum to the fault
0V ÄÄÁÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄ then little increase after that.
Faulty
IC
5A<ÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÂÄ<5A
1k 470R _³_ | 10R 220R 47R Or passing the safe current down the
³ ³ \_/ | ³ ³ ³ track or a bus, there will be minium
³ ³ ³ 0mV ³ ³ ³ volts at the fault site.
³ ³ 0R | ³ ³ ³
ÄÄÁÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄ
Faulty
IC or Bus
Another approach is to see what gets hot, this method may be the only one
possible in a multi layer PCB, where an ICs/Cap has gone short to an inside in
accessible track layer.
INTERMITTENT FAULTS
These are a large waste of time. Some method of putting on, or removing the
fault is needed to be certain you have found the cause. Heating & cooling
components, but other faults can show (red herrings) that are not the cause!
Flexing the PCB, leads & tapping components (insulated screwdriver handle) may
give the tell tail cause. I have found a hair line cracked track by passing 5
amps down an isolated PCB track & looking for the spark while flexing the PCB
before now.
But often just a good inspection of solder connections & resoldering may be the
most successful answer.
REMOVING COMPONENTS
Always identify leads, & plugs etc. (mark up/take a picture) so you can put
them back. If the component is definitely dud, then cutting the legs off can
often speed things up. Solder sucking, solder pumps & solder wick can be a
great help. But don't forget that just heating all the legs at once with a pool
of solder will let the component just drop out of the PCB with NO PCB track
damage. You will have to remove all the surplus solder & clean out the holes
with solder wick/pump for the new component.
For bulk stipping of components off scrap boards try a hot air gun (paint
stipper), & most parts will fall off very cleanly, for parts like IC holders it
may be best to leave the IC in place to maintain the shape & spring parts.
Remember the PCB & parts will be very hot!
Why Don't U send an interesting bul?
73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP
Read previous mail | Read next mail