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Krankshaft replied to Hakko FX-888 cheap for 220-240v countries

in Equipment Usage, Soldering, Techniques, and Reviews

07-03-2014, 03:02 PM
Re: Hakko FX-888 cheap for 220-240v countries

You won't regret it I bought an FX-951 back in 08 and it's the best iron I've ever used.

The hot swappable tips are great it also comes with a tip holder so you don't set your workbench on fire . You can go from through hole to SMD work seamlessly.

The lower end Hakko models have the tip over element design swapping a tip on a piping hot element is "sketchy" at best .

I was considering the 937 (now discontinued) which was basically on older version of the...

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Krankshaft replied to APC UPS backup clicking noise

in General Electronics Technical Discussion

07-01-2014, 05:29 AM
Re: APC UPS backup clicking noise

Get the datasheets for the current caps and compare their ESR and ripple to the datasheet of the caps you want to replace them with. I use Panasonic FC or FM for low ESR and Chemicon KMGs for general purpose.

I'm done with the BackUPS consumer grade series I've personally had that issue you described too many times on too many units. At one time I had 5 BackUPS units and all of them died within 4 years and yes it is switching the taps on the transformer for voltage trim purposes. I checked my line voltage when the first unit did this...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 07-01-2014, 05:40 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to Xbox 360 with blown caps

in Troubleshooting Game Consoles & Other Weird Devices

01-14-2013, 05:48 PM
Re: Xbox 360 with blown caps

These old units are timebombs waiting to happen the GPU is way too inefficient produces too much heat and the constant thermal cycling cracks the BGA balls connecting it to the board. Heat is also another contributing factor as insufficient air flow due to clogged heatsink fins (that you can't clean thanks to Microshaft's warranty sticker) hastens the boards demise.

The newer slim 360s have the CPU and GPU on one die and run way cooler. They also finally put a heat spreader over the dies.

You can see the comparisons here:...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 01-14-2013, 05:59 PM.
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Krankshaft replied to Emerson TV Problem Please Help

in Troubleshooting TVs and Video Sources

01-04-2013, 01:48 AM
Re: Emerson TV Problem Please Help

It means the panel is junk. The bonded ribbon cable coming from the glass panel has come loose from the neighboring PCB.

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 01-04-2013, 01:55 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to Vintage GE Alarm clock/ tube radio

in Troubleshooting Audio Equipment

11-22-2012, 03:39 AM
Re: Vintage GE Alarm clock/ tube radio

Orange drop caps aren't mylar they're polypropylene just fyi....

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Krankshaft replied to Ghetto Mod Thread & usuarios.lycos.es

in General Computer & Tech Discussion

11-21-2012, 03:32 PM
Re: Ghetto Mod Thread & usuarios.lycos.es

That's Old Gregg!

An obscure reference from an even more obscure British TV show....

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Krankshaft replied to What to do about missing pad on lead?

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

11-21-2012, 03:27 PM
Re: What to do about missing pad on lead?

If this is a 2 layer board the trace will be on the other side just solder the component from the top and you'll be fine.

If it's a multilayer board and there is no trace on the top you're out of luck.

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Krankshaft replied to AT&T sucks

in Troubleshooting & Designing Networks

11-20-2012, 07:14 AM
Re: AT&T sucks

Wow I can't believe any ISP is still selling packages with such a poor upload speed. That even makes my crappy old cable Internet look better.

I've got Verizon Fios fiber to the premises now.

That's their mid range speed package I could get 75, 100, or 300 Mbps down if I needed it. Also there are NO FLUCTUATIONS during peak hours I can do a speed test any time of the day and the numbers stay rock solid.

I believe U-verse is IPTV too so you're losing bandwidth just to watch TV.

The only time my TVs...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 11-20-2012, 07:42 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to bush lcd32tvoo22hd

in Troubleshooting TVs and Video Sources

08-22-2012, 11:08 AM
Re: bush lcd32tvoo22hd

Thread moved.

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Krankshaft replied to Heathkit Scope Model 10W18S with no fuse

in Equipment Usage, Soldering, Techniques, and Reviews

06-20-2012, 06:00 PM
Re: Heathkit Scope Model 10W18S with no fuse

Use the input current to figure out what amperage fuse to use it's usually on a label somewhere along with the input voltage. Being these used to be kits it may or may not have a label with this info on it like off the shelf electronic have.

If the info isn't there. You'll need to find the schematic or assembly manual online. If you can't find a PDF somewhere I believe Heath still offers schematics and assembly manuals for sale.

Replacement fuse holders are readily available at electronics stores and online....

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 06-20-2012, 06:03 PM.
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Krankshaft replied to Fluke 187 corroded battery terminals - how to clean?

in Equipment Usage, Soldering, Techniques, and Reviews

06-14-2012, 03:19 PM
Re: Fluke 187 corroded battery terminals - how to clean?

I have a bunch of Eneloops they're great batteries and have a real low self discharge rate.

Unlike the other brands that will self discharge in a few weeks if you don't constantly recharge them.

They have a 6 hour charge time but the slower charge rate is gentler on the batteries. As a result they can go through more charge / discharge cycles than the quick charge batteries. Stay away from the 15 minute charge batteries the rapid charging destroys them pretty quickly.

If you need a noisy...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 06-14-2012, 03:29 PM.
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Krankshaft replied to Fake hard drive

in General Computer & Tech Discussion

04-19-2012, 02:53 PM
Re: Fake hard drive

Let me guess got it from E-bay shipped from China ?

Pretty creative I'll give them that.

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Krankshaft replied to Noisy fan in LCD TV

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

04-09-2012, 06:24 PM
Re: Noisy fan in LCD TV

Have you looked up the LCD model on Encompass to see how much a replacement OE fan would be?

If it's not available or prohibitively expensive it looks like nothing a PC fan and some modifying with a Dremel can't fix.

I've never had luck attempting to relube sleeve bearing fans. The result was usually short lived and eventually the fan went back to either making noise or went one better and seized up completely.

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 04-09-2012, 06:29 PM.
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Krankshaft replied to Crt might be overheating

in Troubleshooting Computer Displays

04-05-2012, 07:44 AM
Re: Crt might be overheating

What is occurring on the CRT leading you to believe something is wrong?

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Krankshaft replied to I hate 478

in General Computer & Tech Discussion

04-05-2012, 05:52 AM
Re: I hate 478

Like LGA 775 is any better?

The CPU manufacturers just passed the buck on bent pins to the motherboard manufacturers .

It's way easier to damage a 775 socket and at least on 478 and any other pin based CPU if you mess it up you can gently bend a pin back in place. Forget that on 775 sockets the contacts are too flimsy.

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 04-05-2012, 05:57 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to Bad caps nearly killed my central HVAC unit.. and they have costed me $$$'s

in Troubleshooting Game Consoles & Other Weird Devices

03-27-2012, 10:16 AM
Re: Bad caps nearly killed my central HVAC unit.. and they have costed me $$$'s

Good thing you caught it in time.

Most A/C units manufactured nowadays are inverter units the inverters are the Achilles heel of the system and are also usually poorly ventilated which doesn't help the caps. Not uncommon for these units to start acting up 3-5 years down the line way sooner in salty environments. Of course this didn't happen with the older units that used a thermostat for an On/Off signal to the compressor instead of PWM. More complexity in the name of "energy savin...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 03-27-2012, 10:23 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to Opening remote controls?

in Troubleshooting TVs and Video Sources

03-23-2012, 01:45 PM
Re: Opening remote controls?

Don't be shocked if you break a few of the clips they're not meant to be disassembled.

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Krankshaft replied to if you have a newer gel or agm battery with no capacity try this.

in General Electronics Technical Discussion

03-22-2012, 08:04 AM
Re: if you have a newer gel or agm battery with no capacity try this.

I always thought the reason they wouldn't hold a charge anymore was due to sulphation and not loss of electrolyte via hydrogen gassing. Then again the chargers in the Back UPS series aren't the best and probably overcharge the batteries.

Interesting I'll try this on my 7 ah UPS SLAs the next time one fails.

Luckily prying the plastic cover over the cell caps off is easy since the Chinese don't use much glue .

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 03-22-2012, 08:07 AM.
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Krankshaft replied to I just did my first reflow.

in General Electronics Technical Discussion

03-17-2012, 07:12 PM
Re: I just did my first reflow.

Yeah I've found that statistically reballs are more reliable than reflows and yes the sad thing is there are alot of scammers posting pics of fancy equipment when they just have a heatgun or even worse perform a clamp mod.

I thought it couldn't get any worse after the PS2 / X-box dead DVD drives and lasers fiasco. Those were pretty easy money.

But I was wrong . It just way worse.

Personally I think I'm done with consoles been playing a lot more games on the PC lately anyway.

Got...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 03-17-2012, 07:17 PM.
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Krankshaft replied to I just did my first reflow.

in General Electronics Technical Discussion

03-17-2012, 06:55 PM
Re: I just did my first reflow.

Sorry I was talking about Xbox 360s in that specific instance PS3s as you said are another story.

Sony would argue it's in response to consumers wanting a "quieter console" and since that aligns with their goal of selling more consoles they're more than happy to oblige.

Reflowing eliminates the solder crystals when the balls reach a molten state.

Solder crystals are formed at an accelerated rate when the joints are held at high temperatures for extended periods. The underside of a BGA has the perfect...

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Last edited by Krankshaft; 03-17-2012, 07:08 PM.
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