Aid to trouble shooting PCBs - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

JHGibson · 31st Aug 2010, 7:50 pm

When repairing PC boards, I find that with my eyes zipping backwards and forwards between the schematic and the board, I frequently lose track of the IC pin of interest. Now I mark that pin with a dab from a red Sharpie pen and then I can bring my scope or DVM probe to the correct place every time. Other pins - other colours.
John.

1st Sep 2010, 5:33 pm

Neat, simple, I like it.

glowinganode · 1st Sep 2010, 10:00 pm

Use different colours to mark grounds and power supply rails. Tesco do a pack of 4 dvd permanent markers with nice fine tips.
Rob.

Tim · 1st Sep 2010, 11:44 pm

Too simple for me to think of!

Nice tip.

threeseven · 2nd Sep 2010, 12:15 pm

That was a tip given to me during my training by Philips when I worked at CES. I often used to find coloured dots applied by other Philips trained service engineers when I was working on equipment in for another visit, gave me a hint what they had been up to !

Another tip, I often find that I need to attach a probe to a component so that I can have my hands free to use test gear or whatever and there is no space on the lead out, or access is limited etc. So, get a short piece of resistor lead out or similar and solder it to the required pad on the PCB and instant test point to clip a prod to !

Aerodyne · 2nd Sep 2010, 6:02 pm

This is a sensible idea that I could have done with today, tracing a fault on a board I'd just assembled. Turned out to be a track wrongly connected in one channel of a stereo device. Took some finding, naturally!
-Tony

31st Aug 2010, 7:50 pm	#1
JHGibson Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada Posts: 368	Aid to trouble shooting PCBs When repairing PC boards, I find that with my eyes zipping backwards and forwards between the schematic and the board, I frequently lose track of the IC pin of interest. Now I mark that pin with a dab from a red Sharpie pen and then I can bring my scope or DVM probe to the correct place every time. Other pins - other colours. John.

1st Sep 2010, 5:33 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Aid to trouble shooting PCBs Neat, simple, I like it.

1st Sep 2010, 10:00 pm	#3
glowinganode Octode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,522	Re: Aid to trouble shooting PCBs Use different colours to mark grounds and power supply rails. Tesco do a pack of 4 dvd permanent markers with nice fine tips. Rob. __________________ We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

1st Sep 2010, 11:44 pm	#4
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Aid to trouble shooting PCBs Too simple for me to think of! Nice tip. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

2nd Sep 2010, 12:15 pm	#5
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Aid to trouble shooting PCBs That was a tip given to me during my training by Philips when I worked at CES. I often used to find coloured dots applied by other Philips trained service engineers when I was working on equipment in for another visit, gave me a hint what they had been up to ! Another tip, I often find that I need to attach a probe to a component so that I can have my hands free to use test gear or whatever and there is no space on the lead out, or access is limited etc. So, get a short piece of resistor lead out or similar and solder it to the required pad on the PCB and instant test point to clip a prod to !

2nd Sep 2010, 6:02 pm	#6
Aerodyne Octode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK. Posts: 1,698	Re: Aid to trouble shooting PCBs This is a sensible idea that I could have done with today, tracing a fault on a board I'd just assembled. Turned out to be a track wrongly connected in one channel of a stereo device. Took some finding, naturally! -Tony