A lot of people are asking for the right to repair. Many people believe products should last longer, and therefore when broken, they should be repaired. This requires products to be designed for repair as well as support for repairers of all kinds. The goal of right-to-repair rules, advocates say, is to require companies to make their parts, tools and information available to consumers and repair shops in order to keep devices from ending up in the scrap heap. The surge in interest in right to repair is good news for consumers and environment, but it isn’t great news for those companies keen on planned obsolescence.
Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground article says that in USA both Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws to make it easier for people to fix cellphones, cars, even hospital ventilators. In Europe, the movement is further along.
Vice article The Right to Repair Movement Is Poised to Explode in 2021 article says that in USA fourteen states are exploring “right to repair” legislation as the movement gains steam. Whether it’s John Deere’s efforts to make tractor repair costly and annoying, Apple’s bullying of independent repair shops, or Sony and Microsoft’s attempt to monopolize game console repair, US corporations have done an incredible job the last few years driving bipartisan public interest in the “right to repair” movement. Last year witnessed monumental progress for right to repair and 2021 is expected to take the effort to an entirely new level.
In addition to the environmental impact of slowing the rate of expanding landfills there are also other benefits. A recent report by US PIRG found that repair monopolization comes with significant costs for American consumers. It also found that American families would save $40 billion ($330 per family) per year if they repaired more products and used them for longer periods. That’s of course
The French repair index: challenges and opportunities article tells that since January 1st 2021, France is the first country in Europe to have implemented a repairability index on 5 categories of electronic devices. While this index is a key milestone for the Right to Repair in Europe, it isn’t without limitations.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s Self Service Repair now available
Genuine Apple parts and tools can now be purchased by US customers
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/04/apples-self-service-repair-now-available/
Apple today announced Self Service Repair is now available, providing repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools through the Apple Self Service Repair Store. Self Service Repair is available in the US and will expand to additional countries — beginning in Europe — later this year.
The new online store offers more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices to complete repairs on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and iPhone SE (3rd generation), such as the display, battery, and camera. Later this year the program will also include manuals, parts, and tools to perform repairs on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
https://www.selfservicerepair.com/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Breaking Into Apple’s Secret Genius Bar Tools!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5UofJKiAWA
Apple now allows you to buy the same tools used in the Genius Bar for iPhone repairs. In our last video, we used these tools to get inside an iPhone. Now, we’re using tools to get inside… these… tools.
0:00 – What’s Inside Your Mother?
0:32 – Battery Press
2:59 – Display Adhesive Press
11:31 – Heated Display Removal Fixture
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
Hands-on with Apple’s Self-Service Repair kit to swap iPhone batteries: users rent 79 pounds of tools including a heat station for a seven-day $1,200 card hold — Apple must be joking. — That’s how I felt again and again as I jumped through hoop after ridiculous hoop to replace the battery in my iPhone Mini.
Apple shipped me a 79-pound iPhone repair kit to fix a 1.1-ounce battery
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/21/23079058/apple-self-service-iphone-repair-kit-hands-on?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
I’m starting to think Apple doesn’t want us to repair them
AppleApple must be joking.
That’s how I felt again and again as I jumped through hoop after ridiculous hoop to replace the battery in my iPhone Mini. Part of that was the repair process — mostly, it was how difficult Apple makes it to even get there.
Last month, Apple launched its Self-Service Repair program, letting US customers fix broken screens, batteries, and cameras on the latest iPhones using Apple’s own parts and tools for the first time ever. I couldn’t wait. I’d never successfully repaired a phone — and my wife has never let me live down the one time I broke her Samsung Galaxy while using a hair dryer to replace the screen. This time, armed with an official repair manual and genuine parts, I’d make it right.
That Apple would even let me buy those parts, much less read its manuals and rent its tools, is a major change of pace for the company. For years, Apple has been lobbying to suppress right-to-repair policies around the country, with the company accused of doing everything it can to keep customers from repairing their own phones. It’s easy to see this as a huge moment for DIY advocates. But having tried the repair process, I actually can’t recommend it at all — and I have a sneaking suspicion that Apple likes it that way.
The thing you should understand about Apple’s home repair process is that it’s a far cry from traditional DIY if you opt for the kit — which I did, once I saw the repair manual only contains instructions for Apple’s own tools. (You can just buy a battery if you want.)
I expected Apple would send me a small box of screwdrivers, spudgers, and pliers; I own a mini iPhone, after all. Instead, I found two giant Pelican cases — 79 pounds of tools — on my front porch. I couldn’t believe just how big and heavy they were considering Apple’s paying to ship them both ways.
Step one of opening an iPhone is, basically, using a hefty machine to suck the screen off the top. Here, I wasn’t microwaving a jelly-filled sock to loosen the Apple goop holding my screen down! Apple lets you rent an industrial-grade heat station that looks like a piece of lab equipment, right down to the big red safety dial you twist to release the emergency-off button and the suction-cup-tipped mechanical lifting arm. It looks pretty cool.
Apple also provides a set of fancy torque drivers to make sure you don’t screw down the phone’s tiny screws too tightly, but it’s a bit of a chore. I must have dropped Apple’s incredibly tiny fasteners a dozen times while removing the slivers of metal that hold the screen’s ribbon cables in place, as well as the bottom speaker that Apple makes you yank to get at the battery. Presumably just to make it more difficult to repair, Apple requires three different screwdriver bits just to remove the screen, and none of Apple’s bits are magnetized to keep the screws from slipping.
When it finally lay open on the table, I couldn’t help but gawk in wonder at my iPhone 13 Mini’s precisely packed guts, and I realized I was having fun! Slicing open my phone was a thrill. But a lot of that thrill came from not knowing whether my phone would survive surgery — Apple tools or no.
From there, it was time to swap out the battery. Once I finished cursing at the far too easy to tear tabs that held in the original lithium pack, I used Apple’s fancy battery press with a rolling arm to seat — but not squish — the new battery down. But I could have done that with my fingertips; I’d have much rather had a tool to properly align the battery
The single most frustrating part of this process, after using Apple’s genuine parts and Apple’s genuine tools, was that my iPhone didn’t recognize the genuine battery as genuine. “Unknown Part,” flashed a warning. Apparently, that’s the case for almost all of these parts: you’re expected to dial up Apple’s third-party logistics company after the repair so they can validate the part for you. That’s a process that involves having an entirely separate computer and a Wi-Fi connection since you have to reboot your iPhone into diagnostics mode and give the company remote control. Which, of course, defeats a bunch of the reasons you’d repair your own device at home!
And, if I’m telling you the truth, the second most frustrating part didn’t occur during the repair either. If it were just me, I’d have aborted the entire process before Apple ever shipped 79 pounds of equipment to my home.
It would be an understatement to say that Apple has a history of resisting right-to-repair efforts.
In recent years, the company has actively lobbied against right-to-repair legislation in at least 20 states, sneakily pushing California, as one example, to postpone its bill. (The bill died in committee again this very week.) Apple cracked down on unauthorized repairs by throwing warnings or even disabling features if you repair phones with non-“genuine” parts, though it walked some of that back after an outcry. And it put together a contract for indie repair shops that was reportedly so invasive, many refused to sign it.
So, it didn’t surprise me when Apple’s press release about the program warned “the vast majority of customers” away from their own repairs, or when I needed to enter my phone’s IMEI to prove I owned my phone, or how I had to enter a six-digit code to prove I read the repair manual, which not only suggests you need three pages worth of tools but also a jar of sand in case your battery catches fire — one of many not strictly necessary items that don’t come with the kit. Apple also only includes instructions on how to use its own special tools for repairs, so you’re on your own if you want to try a more low-key or inexpensive DIY approach.
Yeah, none of that surprised me. What surprised me was the price tag.
$69 for a new battery — the same price the Apple Store charges for a battery replacement, except here I get to do all the work and assume all the risk.
$49 to rent Apple’s tools for a week, more than wiping out any refund I might get for returning the old used part.
A $1,200 credit card hold for the toolkit, which I would forfeit if the tools weren’t returned within seven days of delivery.
Let’s be clear: this is a ridiculous amount of risk for the average person who just wants to put a new battery in their phone. And it’s frankly weird for Apple to insist on you covering the full value of the tools. “It’s not like when you rent a car they make you put down $20,000 as a safety deposit,” my colleague Mitchell Clark points out.
The more I think about it, the more I realize Apple’s Self-Service Repair program is the perfect way to make it look like the company supports right-to-repair policies without actually encouraging them at all. Apple can say it’s giving consumers access to everything, even the same tools its technicians use, while scaring them away with high prices, complexity, and the risk of losing a $1,200 deposit. This way, Apple gets credit for walking you through an 80-page repair, instead of building phones where — say — you don’t need to remove the phone’s most delicate components and two different types of security screws just to replace a battery.
To me, those giant Pelican cases are the proof. It would cost Apple a fortune to ship 79 pounds of equipment to individual homes all over the country, even with corporate discounts. The Verge is obviously far, far smaller than Apple, but it would cost us upwards of $200 just to return those cases to their sender. Yet Apple offers free shipping both directions with your $49 rental, plus a dedicated support team to validate your parts and facilitate returns.
I don’t think Apple expects anyone to seriously take it up on the offer of self-service repair kits. It stacked the deck in favor of taking your phone to an Apple Store, where it can tempt you to buy something new instead. The real victory will come months or years down the road, though. That’s when Apple can tell legislators it tried to give right-to-repair advocates what they wanted — but that consumers overwhelmingly decided Apple knows best.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
iFixit will sell nearly every part of Valve’s Steam Deck, including its $350 motherboard with the AMD Aerith chip, and upgrades to the fan and the screen
iFixit will sell nearly every part of the Steam Deck — including the entire motherboard
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/21/23133302/ifixit-steam-deck-repair-parts-leak?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
You might even be able to upgrade your fan or screen
The era of fixing your own gadgets has nearly arrived, and Valve’s Steam Deck handheld gaming PC may be setting the best example yet — not only does it offer a repair-friendly design, but it now looks like almost every part will be sold separately at iFixit.
This evening, the company prematurely revealed a huge collection of its promised repair parts at its website, and we were surprised to see everything down to the motherboard with the AMD Aerith chip at the heart of the Steam Deck will soon be available, admittedly for a pricey $350.
In fact, iFixit will even sell parts that might be considered upgrades for an existing Steam Deck — if you decide you’d rather have the anti-glare screen that only comes with the 512GB model, or the allegedly quieter Huaying fan, you’ll be able to nab those for $95 and $25 respectively. You can pay $5 more for a “Fix Kit” that comes with everything you need to do those repairs — which I’d highly recommend for the screen. If you’ve got a spudger and a screwdriver already, you probably don’t need it for the fan.
Here’s what iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens tells The Verge about the battery sitch:
We are building a solution for repairing the Steam Deck that includes all the step-by-step guides and parts that you need to fix your Deck. Our initial release includes the parts and tools to complete most repairs. We don’t have a solution for battery repairs on day one
Tomi Engdahl says:
APPLE SHIPPED ME A 79-POUND IPHONE REPAIR KIT TO FIX A 1.1-OUNCE BATTERY
I’m starting to think Apple doesn’t want us to repair them
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/21/23079058/apple-self-service-iphone-repair-kit-hands-on
Tomi Engdahl says:
Russell Brandom / The Verge:
The New York State Assembly passes the first right-to-repair bill in the US covering electronics; Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the measure
New York state passes first-ever ‘right to repair’ law for electronics
https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/3/23153504/right-to-repair-new-york-state-law-ifixit-repairability-diy?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
‘Repairs should become less expensive and more comprehensive’ because of the new measure, says iFixit
The New York state legislature has passed the United States’ first “right to repair” bill covering electronics. Called the Fair Repair Act, the measure would require all manufacturers who sell “digital electronic products” within state borders to make tools, parts, and instructions for repair available to both consumers and independent shops.
Having passed the legislature, it is awaiting signature by Governor Kathy Hochul, who is expected to support the measure. The measure will take effect one year after it passes into law.
Self-repair groups like iFixit have applauded the ruling, calling it “one giant leap for repairkind” in a blog post following the announcement.
“The passage of this bill means that repairs should become less expensive and more comprehensive: people who want to fix their own stuff can,” the post reads. “Where before, manufacturers could push consumers to use manufacturer-authorized shops, now they’ll have to compete.”
The move comes after sustained federal pressure to enforce consumers’ rights to repair and refurbish their purchased goods.
New York isn’t the first state to pass a right to repair bill, but it’s the first such bill to apply to electronics broadly. A previous Massachusetts law focused on automobile data, and earlier this year, Colorado passed a bill ensuring repair rights for powered wheelchairs. The language of the New York bill does include exceptions for home appliances, medical devices, and agricultural equipment — the last of which has been a particular flash point for advocates.
Still, the law is likely to have an impact far beyond the borders of New York state. Now that manufacturers selling goods in New York are required to make repair manuals available, it’s likely those manuals will quickly become available around the world. More invasive software measures will also become impractical, which could lead to broad changes in how electronics are designed and maintained.
senate Bill S4104A
2021-2022 Legislative Session
Enacts the digital fair repair act
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S4104
Tomi Engdahl says:
Albany passes ‘right to repair’ law for electronics to confront ‘monopoly’ on repair market
https://gothamist.com/news/albany-passes-right-to-repair-law-for-electronics-to-confront-monopoly-on-repair-market
It may soon be easier to get your busted iPhone fixed.
Under a bill passed by the state legislature last week, digital electronics manufacturers – such as Apple or Samsung – will be required to make repair instructions and parts available to both consumers and independent technicians.
The “right to repair” legislation, which still needs to be signed into law by the governor, is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The FTC labeled this practice as “deceptive” and said the company must stop the practice immediately.
FTC Orders Weber to Honor the Sacred Right to Repair Your Own Grill
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k8vb4/ftc-orders-weber-to-honor-the-sacred-right-to-repair-your-own-grill?utm_source=motherboardtv_facebook&utm_medium=social
The FTC labeled this practice as “deceptive” and said the company must stop the practice immediately.
On the heels of the nation’s largest grilling holiday, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday that it is sanctioning Weber for illegally voiding the warranties of grill owners who installed third-party products on their gas grills.
This is the third punitive action against a major, beloved American company in the last several weeks
In this case, Weber would only honor its warranty on Summit and Genesis-II gas grills if customers used “genuine WEBER parts,” which is a violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a law that prohibits manufacturers from “tying” warranties to the use of specific parts. The FTC labeled this practice as “deceptive” and said the company must stop the practice immediately.
“Weber is being ordered to fix its warranty by removing illegal terms and recognizing the right to repair and come clean with customers about their ability to use third-party parts,”
Weber will have to pay up to $46,517 for further violations of the law, will have to add language that says “using third-party parts will not void this warranty,” and must directly contact customers to tell them that their warranties are not void if they use third party parts.
Samuel Levine, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said other companies should now be on notice: “Companies that use their warranties to illegally restrict consumers’ right to repair should fix them now.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
A New Jailbreak for John Deere Tractors Rides the Right-to-Repair Wave https://www.wired.com/story/john-deere-tractor-jailbreak-defcon-2022/
FARMERS AROUND THE world have turned to tractor hacking so they can bypass the digital locks that manufacturers impose on their vehicles.
Like insulin pump “looping” and iPhone jailbreaking, this allows farmers to modify and repair the expensive equipment that’s vital to their work, the way they could with analog tractors. At the DefCon security conference in Las Vegas on Saturday, the hacker known as Sick Codes is presenting a new jailbreak for John Deere & Co tractors that allows him to take control of multiple models through their touchscreens.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oh Deere: Farm hardware jailbroken to run Doom
Corn-y demo heralded as right-to-repair win
https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/16/john_deere_doom/
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Jailbreak Code for John Deere Is Here to “Liberate the Tractors”
https://jalopnik.com/new-jailbreak-code-for-john-deere-is-here-to-liberate-1849423413
Tomi Engdahl says:
how to repair any flash drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoKWNESv72o
Flash drives that get physically broken can either be repaired to get the data back (when possible), or data can be recovered by doing a chip-off data recovery procedure. If the circuit is broken, fixing it would clear the path to the data. If the board and the circuit are not broken, but NAND is problematic, then the chip-off might be the only option left. Repairing the flash drive to make it work on its own is always the best way to get data from it. Sometimes the board would be so damaged, that fixing it just does not make sense. That’s where the 3rd option comes in. Swapping over essential data-related components to a working/compatible board is probably the best and fastest way to get access to the data. In this video, I will demonstrate how to make it happen. Enjoy
Tomi Engdahl says:
When a Light Bulb is better than a Fuse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br9dQiSisYg
The lowly incandescent light bulb is a great current limiting accessory when testing or repairing electrical equipment, particularity vintage items with failing components. You can easily make a convenient device of this kind yourself, and a few different bulb sizes (60w, 100w, 200w) is all you need to test almost anything. A great practical application of the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of most metals – something you cant to the a CFL or LED bulb!
Isolation Transformers and GFCI Outlets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olq9wdeNS4c&t=609s
I briefly discuss how to use a GFCI (aka RCD) outlet or an Isolation Transformer for electrical safety when experimenting with, repairing, or testing electrical equipment. Also covered are the considerations of when to use a ground or not, and some examples of when GFCI’s or isolation transformers may not (completely) protect you. I hope this video will be useful for DIYers at home and also for the worplace when prototyping new products (of which I have done a lot!) and testing products safely during the manufacturing process.
Tomi Engdahl says:
SAFELY TEST a Tube Amp // How to MAKE and USE a Current Sink // DIY Light Bulb Current Limiter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v66dY6djBlk
Safety Tip – This video details how I made my Light Bulb Current Limiter (Current Sink)
When testing or working on electrical equipment that is connected to your “Mains” 120V wall outlet, having a protection device like this is good idea.
A Variac is another option but a it a good one can typically cost over $150.00.
This DIY device can be made for under $30.00, even cheaper if you have some of the parts already!
Tomi Engdahl says:
i was shocked at results of this data recovery case
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPOMPNbEDhk
to say this flash drive recovery process surprised me would be a total understatement, i was shocked at results of this data recovery case.
For as long as I can remember I was always saying that getting the device to work on its own is the absolute best way to get access to the data in its original form. Turns out it is not always the case. This flash drive came from a local Ottawa client for data recovery. Being a teacher client was looking for a lot of documents that were only stored on this USB stick. Upon initial testing, the flash drive was performing well and it was giving direct access to the data. However, it looked like the beginning was erased (possibly formatted by mistake but canceled shortly after). Loading the drive up using Deepspart USB stabilizer and pairing it with R-studio software, quickly gave me access to the flash drive contents by its interface. There was no file structure even after running a full detailed scan on the whole volume. RAW recovery did restore files and they tested as functional – so the translation worked fine. I was surprised to see such a small amount of data present on an already small 2gb device. I decided to hack into the NAND and ready the physical image out to see how filled with data it would look. The rest is in this video. Enjoy
microsd with worst damage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsFKpqVhU88
Tomi Engdahl says:
When a Light Bulb is better than a Fuse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br9dQiSisYg
The lowly incandescent light bulb is a great current limiting accessory when testing or repairing electrical equipment, particularity vintage items with failing components. You can easily make a convenient device of this kind yourself, and a few different bulb sizes (60w, 100w, 200w) is all you need to test almost anything. A great practical application of the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of most metals – something you cant to the a CFL or LED bulb!
Tomi Engdahl says:
All You Need To Know About AMPLIFIERS To Fix Stuff – A Beginners Guide To Audio Amplifier Repair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oWBcTTeMNQ
NOTE TO BEGINNERS This video is suitable for anyone with at least a basic knowledge of electronic components, particularly Transistors. If I covers topics here that you are not familiar with I strongly recommend you watch my other videos in the ‘All You Need To Know About’.. series first. In particular ‘All You Need To Know About Transistors To Fix Stuff’
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:08:10 Amplifier Classes
00:10:33 Class A Amplifiers
00:17:34 Class B Amplifiers
00:24:52 Class A/B Amplifiers
00:29:47 Class G & Class H Amplifiers
00:42:10 Bridge Mode
00:45:40 Class D Amplifiers
00:50:21 Test Equipment
1:04:38 What Goes Wrong
01:24:09 Practical Example
01:43:33 Epilogue
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Art Of Methodical Fault Finding – A Practical Example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vP0YEsBeE4
In this video we look at some Fault Finding Diagnosis methods, plus we have a practical example of how to diagnose and repair circuits when you have very little information about the circuit function and can’t find any datasheets for the components
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 The Art Of Electronics Repair
00:10:35 The Victim
00:14:11 Preliminary Enquiries
00:16:44 Reverse Engineering
00:37:16 Forensics
00:37:19 Sherlock
01:00:42 Case Solved
01:07:41 Debriefing
Tomi Engdahl says:
Airpod restoration
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1239613496814618?s=yWDuG2&fs=e
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Pro: a repair attempt blow-by-blow
https://www.edn.com/apples-beats-powerbeats-pro-a-repair-attempt-blow-by-blow/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=link&utm_medium=EDNConsumerElectronics-20220914&oly_enc_id=2359J2998023G8W
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kyle Wiens / iFixit News:
A teardown of the iPhone 14 reveals a redesigned internal metal midframe, allowing access from the front and the back, which should make repairs easier — The best feature of the iPhone 14 is one that Apple didn’t tell you about. Forget satellite SOS and the larger camera, the headline is this …
Inside Apple’s Secret iPhone 14 Redesign
What if we told you this is the iPhone 14 you should buy?
https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown
The best feature of the iPhone 14 is one that Apple didn’t tell you about. Forget satellite SOS and the larger camera, the headline is this: Apple has completely redesigned the internals of the iPhone 14 to make it easier to repair. It is not at all visible from the outside, but this is a big deal. It’s the most significant design change to the iPhone in a long time. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models still have the old architecture, so if you’re thinking about buying a new phone, and you want an iPhone that really lasts, you should keep reading.
If this surprises you, you’re not alone. It surprised us! The new features and external changes to the iPhone 14 are so slight that The Verge suggested it should have been called the iPhone 13S, saying “The iPhone 13, which came out a year ago and Apple is still selling, is nearly identical to the 14.”
But that’s actually not true—though almost nobody had any way of knowing. Apple didn’t mention the secret redesign in their keynote. If reviewers had disassembled the phone, they would have discovered this: The iPhone 14 opens from the front and the back.
This is the iPhone 14 reborn as a beautiful butterfly—a midframe in the middle, accessible screen on the left, and removable rear glass on the right.
Tomi Engdahl says:
All you need to know about Linear PSU (Power Supplies) To Build And Fix Stuff – Tutorial Guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pAOBPmC7Fw
Let’s take a look at Linear Power Supplies. These are much simpler than Switch Mode PSU but there is still plenty to learn, We’ll put together a small dual positive/negative power supply mostly using parts salvaged from a NiCAD/NIMH battery charger. Of course things don’t quite go to plan and it doesn’t work! So we have to diagnose and fix the problem. There is some very good advice about the fundamentals of Electronics Repair here – watch it through and you may have a ‘light bulb’ moment!
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Prologue
00:02:08 The Battery Chargers
00:07:31 Salvaging The Components
00:27:40 Schematic (Pt 1)
00:32:13 Connecting The Transformer
00:33:24 DANGER! Autotransformers
00:37:01 Rectifier Diodes
00:40:29 Half Wave Rectification
00:42:23 Schottky Diodes
00:46:44 Schematic (Pt 2)
00:48:52 Smoothing Capacitors
00:52:08 Schematic (Pt 3)
00:55:08 Voltage Regulators
00:56:20 It Doesn’t Work!
00:57:05 Diagnosis
00:59:05 * THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPEDANCE *
01:05:25 Fault Finding (Pt 1)
01:06:50 Ohms Law
01:09:14 Fault Finding (Pt 2)
01:18:00 Load Testing
01:23:08 Full Wave Rectification
01:31:41 Battery Chargers (Reprise)
01:38:01 Epilogue
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Build the Amazing CHEAP DIY Huntron Tracker Octopus PCB Tester Curve Tracer $20 or less
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWCZCLGtyDU
The Huntron Tracker is something of a legend in the electronics repair community. Second hand ones are hard to find and attract a large price tag! I used one back in the 1980s and they are really good for fault finding on all sorts of PCBs. Let’s see if we can build a Huntron Tracker clone using a mixture of salvaged components and cheap off the shelf parts, the aim is to keep the cost down to around $20
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:38 Update on the $1 Short Finder Project
00:02:02 The PCBWay Ruler
00:04:07 The Device Under Test
00:05:07 The Legend Of The Huntron Tracker
00:07:48 HZ 65 Component Tester
00:16:05 DIY HZ 65 Add-on
00:17:29 Fault Finding With The Huntron Tracker
00:19:55 Reverse Engineering
00:28:58 The Schematic
00:30:42 The 110 Ohm Fuse!
00:31:23 How It Works
00:36:37 Designing the $20 Huntron Tracker
00:41:36 Building the $20 Huntron Tracker
00:53:57 Setting The Trimmer Pot
00:54:59 Testing the $20 Huntron Tracker
00:58:10 Conclusion
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Amazing $1 Short Finder Upgraded! Convert your multimeter to a 4 lead Kelvin Probe Short Tracer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eixDdCpiO4
In this video I revisit the Amazing $1 Short Finder. The original version was very popular and works just fine – but with the help of a couple of amazing guys on YouTube and PCBWay I now have two new versions which work even better!
Tomi Engdahl says:
All You Need To Know About TRANSISTORS To Fix Stuff! How Transistors Work Test In & Out of Circuit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNu00nMBaaQ
LER #243 All you need to know about MOSFETS to fix stuff This is the 9th video in this series looking at common components and circuits, from the perspective of a repair hobbyist / technician.
In each video I hope to teach you all you need to know about the most common way in which components and circuits fail, and how to test and diagnose these faults.
00:00:00 Chapter 1 – Introduction
00:06:47 Chapter 2 – MOSFETs vs Bipolar Transistors
00:13:59 Chapter 3 – Understanding P Channel MOSFETs
00:18:28 Chapter 4 – Testing MOSFETs
00:25:17 Chapter 5 – The Body Diode
00:30:23 Chapter 6 – Why We Need Gate Resistors
00:32:40 Chapter 7 – Gain vs Rdson
00:36:25 Chapter 8 – Enhancement & Depletion
00:38:57 Chapter 9 – Switching Properties
00:40:13 Chapter 10 – What Goes Wrong
00:41:56 Chapter 11 – ESD
00:43:23 Chapter 12 – Floating Gates
00:50:04 Chapter 13 – Testing MOSFETs In Circuit
00:54:55 Chapter 14 – Epilogue
Tomi Engdahl says:
All You Need To Know About TRANSISTORS To Fix Stuff! How Transistors Work Test In & Out of Circuit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDDwTbM9DLw
All You Need To Know About MOSFETS To Fix Stuff! How Mosfets Work Fail Test In & Out of Circuit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNu00nMBaaQ
Tomi Engdahl says:
All You Need To Know About DIODES To Fix Stuff! LER #196
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW3jpiQ4xpA
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Recap A Power Supply / PSU. LER#101 ATX PSU Replace Capacitors, Recapping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b40g3NDy9mM
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Fix PC Stuck in Boot LOOP. Gaming PC Repair GA-B85M-DS3H-A + ROG Strix GTX 970.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_pY5mC_OKg
Desktop Motherboard Starts / Powers on but does not boot / POST No boot No beeps/bleeps LER #178
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPFo5XHuQkQ
Tomi Engdahl says:
Troubleshooting a PC that REFUSES to POST! Here’s how I fixed it…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWjMt8GMsX8
This PC would not POST, so here is how to troubleshoot a PC that isn’t cooperating
Tomi Engdahl says:
Learn Electronics Repair #33 – Online Resources. Where to find Schematic Diagrams & Repair Advice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlaw-tt-QIo
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pure Electronics Repair. Learn Methodical Fault Finding Techniques / Methods To Fix Almost Anything
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkAp5x3Z_gc
LER #221 In this video I show you how to diagnose and repair just about anything, At the day it is all just electronics, yeah? Learn how to apply your knowledge of electronics in a step by step structured METHODICAL way.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HOW TO UNDERSTAND A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND IT’S CONNECTIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLUmM6rZCk
Tomi Engdahl says:
Most common electronic circuit board problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McHmw1gLP6c
This is a just a quick video of the most common circuit board problem, bad caps. I just give a brief explanation on how to notice them and what your looking for.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Earn Money as an Electronic Hobbyist / Troubleshooting Circuit Boards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MWVAh1V1c4
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Repair Damaged / Broken PCB Traces – 2 Great Methods
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFMkfAyqBMc
How to repair damaged / broken PCB traces is a clear soldering tutorial showing 2 great , different methods of trace repair.
Using 0.2mm Enamelled copper wire + Kynar wire , learn how you can rescue your boards from trace problems.
See the methods in full use and learn for yourself how it’s done with a series of short videos on every process.
If you enjoy this soldering tutorial and find it of use please like and subscribe and hit the notification bell so as to not miss out on any future releases.
Thank you for your time and good luck with all your soldering projects. Mr Solderfix
Tomi Engdahl says:
XRT Pro Ugly HDMI Repair using Grinding Pen and Pads strips – Mini Maxx Tuner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBNPU0FGsU
Tomi Engdahl says:
Multilayer Repair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBi40aq4-t0
PACE Multilayer Repair Techical video
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to repair a battery damaged PCB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f439OuFz-eQ
I am fixing omega race pcbs lately so i figured i would show you a video about how to take care of acid damage
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to fix PCB edge connectors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eio0w_phbxQ
in this video i go over 2 different methods used to repair pcb edge connectors
How To Re-plate and Repair PCB Gold Fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecoxUwzyc0Q
Tomi Engdahl says:
PACE Rework and Repair “Damage Repair”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o4ZWlG6mmo
Lesson 6 High Reliability Rework and Repair of Printed Circuit Boards.
Tomi Engdahl says:
PACE Rework and Repair “Component Removal”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RiRL-flgs
PACE Rework and Repair For Electronics Lesson 3
Tomi Engdahl says:
PCB solder pad repair & corrosion clean up – The epoxy method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx50YtEC2S8
This is a demonstration of a PCB repair which involves repairing damaged surface mount solder pads as well as cleaning up corrosion from a leaking electrolytic capacitor. The pads had been damaged by the owner of the motherboard as a result of him trying to repair the board on his own.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Micro soldering tools of the trade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESNtVzgn9mo
Microsoldering with Jessa Jones : Meet Jessa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFqA9u6y0Fk
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introduction to Microsoldering with Jessa Jones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0OiT9e_JXk
It’s time to heat up those soldering irons! Jessa Jones, the microsoldering mom, is in the studio today to give us the low down on all the tools she uses. Then, she demonstrates how to replace the digitizer connector for an iPhone 5S.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Master Microfixer Teaching the World to Fix iPhones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNKNjy3CoZ4
Using her background in molecular genetics, Jessa has pioneered a new form of board-level iPhone repair.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoldering 101 | FPC Connectors made EASY | On and Off like you know what your doing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ4AN–lon0
On this Episode of the Art of Repair, Justin gives a little guide on how to harvest and plant even LARGE FPC connectors with ease.
Tomi Engdahl says:
#019 – JST XH connector crimp tool review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV3O3zScbf4
Review of cheap (but ratcheting) crimp tool / press for JST XH type connectors.
Tomi Engdahl says:
PCB Repair Pens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTYnnd6LIqc
CircuitWorks® Conductive Pens make instant highly conductive silver traces on circuit boards and are used in prototype, rework, and repair of circuit boards by linking components, repairing defective traces, making smooth jumpers. The silver traces of the circuit pen dry in minutes and have excellent adhesion to most electronic materials. Engineers, repair technicians, and manufacturers will find that the CircuitWorks® Conductive Circuit Pen speeds project completion and cuts rework time.
Transcript of video:
Let’s talk about how you can use CircuitWorks PCB Repair Pens to quickly and effectively fix broken traces on a circuit board.
The traditional method is to solder a wire jumper, which is time consuming, looks bad, and adds more potential points-of-failure to the design.
Let’s go through a faster, easier way to repair a broken trace…
First you scrape away enough resist to expose conductive areas on each side of the break.
If the board is covered with conformal coating, you may need to strip the problem area with the CircuitWorks conformal coating pen.
Next, prep the area with a cleaning pen, like one of our CircuitWorks Flux Remover pens.
Next, apply conductive ink between the breaks in the trace.
Chemtronics offers a wide variety of conductive pens. Our most popular pens have highly conductive silver ink, and are available with either a standard pen tip, or the micro tip for finer traces.
The CircuitWorks Flex Conductive Pen can be used to repair flexible circuit boards without worrying about the silver ink cracking and flaking off.
The Nickel Conductive Pen allows you to make high quality repairs at a lower cost, compared to silver ink.
CircuitWorks Conductive Paint comes with applicators that are ideal for very fine repairs.
Once the conductive ink has fully cured, which takes about an hour, use a CircuitWorks Overcoat pen to patch the resist over the repaired trace.
CircuitWorks Overcoat pens come in clear, green, and blue to match the original solder resist as closely as possible.
Contact us to get more information on how CircuitWorks pens can improve your board repair process.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to check fuses, diodes, transistors, voltage regulators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5FZJXO9sVc
How to check fuses, diodes, transistors, mosfet, voltage regulators in circuit and out of circuit boards, if TV doesn’t turn on or has no red standby light then check the power supply fuses. Some fuses can blow out during a surge or lightning strike or shorted diode or transistor goes out.