Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

[Dhamlin]

I know I am cryin a bit here......

I am a total noob to the electronics world. I got in to fixin tvs about 2 years ago. I have been reading like crazy.

So here is my gripe:

CAPACITORS!!! I got an ESR meter after getting burned a couple times with caps that had good capacitance but still didnt work.....OK so I now have this ESR meter that should tidy up all the other Hiding BAD caps....Not so much. Just recently I tested a capacitor that was clearly bulging, good capacitance and good ESR. So Next Cap: I replaced a voltage regulator down stream and fired the welder up. BANG this cap literally blew up and sent its guts all over everything! replaced it with another cap and now the welder(inverter) works...WTF

I wish when troubleshooting you had tools to actually TEST components!

How do u real techs deal with this? Did I stumble upon some rare caps or is this common?

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

There are tools to test the parts lol example:

Multimeter
Esr meter
Lcr meter
Os scope
Variac

What are you trying to fix ?

[budm]

Re: Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

When cap blew up, it sounds like wrong polarity Voltage was applied or over Voltage applied.

[Alastair E]

Re: Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

There are tools to test the parts lol example:

Multimeter
Esr meter
Lcr meter
Os scope
Variac

What are you trying to fix ?

Add to list-- Isolating Transformer, Insulation-Tester (Good for blowing up stuff!), PAT Tester.

I have all the above, but rarely use more than 35 year old Beckman multimeter!

Any suspicions about a cap--Easier and quicker just to change it!

[dick_barton]

Re: Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

Yep. Wire an electrolytic capacitor in backwards and scrape the debris off the ceiling. Test equipment won't stop human error, I know I've done it myself once or twice.

[adgor]

Re: Frustration With elactronics and Its tools!!!

Yep. Wire an electrolytic capacitor in backwards and scrape the debris off the ceiling. Test equipment won't stop human error, I know I've done it myself once or twice.

I remember doing that ..... it's kind of like putting a raw egg (uncovered) in a microwave and cooking it to fast. It's not pretty