In most electronic equipment there are some basic problems you will see. They are common to most electronic equipment. If your electronic equipment won’t turn on there are some things you can fix if you know how to fix it. I want to tell you how to fix it and be able to do it at very low cost. Remember if you call some one they will charge you labor and that is where most of the cost comes from. The parts are relatively inexpensive.
First you will need to have a meter. The meter should have a diode checker on it. You will see a diode setting on the meter. You will need a soldering iron, solder, and solder wick. If you are unsure of how to solder or desolder then go to the article titled “How To Solder: Basics You Need To Know When Repairing Electronics.” You will need needle nose pliers, and diagonal cutters. When repairing electronics you need to keep in mind that your tools will need to be smaller because you are dealing with smaller components.Diode Bridge
Now to get on with telling you how to fix it. Your AC (Alternating Current) voltage coming into any electronic equipment will normally be converted over to DC (Direct Current) voltage. The way this is done is through what is called a bridge circuit. This bridge circuit consists of four diodes and capacitors. What I have normally seen is one or more of these diodes has shorted out which will cause your main fuse to blow. If you replace the main fuse it will blow again as soon as you apply AC to your item. You will need to find these four diodes in your power supply and check each one.Diode Checking
With your meter on the diode check setting, you can touch the two leads together and this will show you what a short looks like on your particular meter. If you look at the diode itself you should see a line on one end. This line is where you will put your black lead or negative lead and the other side of the diode you will put your positive or red lead. Your meter should give you a reading. On my meter it reads around ..550 on a good diode. If it reads zero you have a shorted diode and it will need to be replaced. Make sure to check all four diodes in the bridge circuit. Then go to an electronic supply to purchase what you need. You should be able to pick up diodes from any electronic supply place. Ask for B+ or rectifier diodes. These are relatively inexpensive, you can probably get 4 diodes for less than five bucks.Diode
Once you have your new diodes, you will want to unsolder the diodes. Look at the way the diode is mounted and which end the line is on. The new diode will have to go back in exactly the way the old diode came out. The line on the diode must go to the same as the old one. This is crucial. Replace one diode at a time in order to ensure that you are getting it in the same as the old one.
Once you have replaced your defective diodes you will want to check to make sure you do not still have a short. Check across each diode again and make sure you have a good reading on all four diodes. If you have a short you probably have a shorted capacitor. You will have to replace the capacitor as well if this is the case. Once you are sure you have no shorts you can replace your main fuse and apply power. The fuse should now hold and you should have a working electronic item.
This is just one basic problem that has been seen in electronic equipment. You may find that after repairing this problem you still have another problem, further inside. Many times though I have found this to be the only problem and the item is repaired. You now know how to fix it and can save yourself time and money. This repair would run you Glorious Dayover $100.00 if you paid someone to do it for you. I believe any one can do this repair and not have to pay this amount. Congratulations on a job well done!
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