Printed circuit boards or PCBs can be found in many different types of electronic devices, such as computers, radios, control panels for industrial machines, and more. Most people never give much thought to these small devices until they become faulty and require electronics repair Winnipeg services.
Sometimes these malfunctions happen after years of use, and sometimes the problem has been accidentally built into the board during its manufacturing process, causing it to fail even before its first use. Fortunately, the physical nature of the printed circuit boards allows fix for most problems.
The following information explains the most common problems linked with the printed circuit board failure.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is one of the most common damages experienced by PCBs. Whether the device fell hard on the floor and shattered the board or someone mistakenly skewered it using a screwdriver, physical damage can destroy a circuit board to such an extent where repair isn’t an option.
Component Failure
Mostly when someone’s printed circuit board gives them problems, it’s due to a faulty component. The component could be anything from capacitors, diodes, a Driver Chip to Microprocessors and other parts. These components typically stop functioning due to:
- Aging
- Overheating
- Corrosion and drying
- Voltage sags and surges
In some cases, an issue with a component can be analyzed by simply looking at it and identifying either a charred, burned or dark color to the component. However, in other cases, a meter may be required to check these parts.
Component Power Failure
Circuit board failures can also be due to power failure to the components, including transformers, transistors and rectifiers. Components can suffer from power failure issues due to various reasons, such as overheating, aging and under or over voltage. If the component blew up, it will be easy to diagnose the damaged component. However, in most cases, a meter will be required to test each individual component.
Trace Damage
Traces on a PCB are those tiny pathways designed using copper or silver. If these traces suffer a damage, it could lead to further problems with the printed circuit board. The most common causes of trace damage include lightening strikes, power surges and metallic dust contamination. Most of the time trace damage can be diagnosed with the bare eye and can typically be repaired.
When a PCB malfunctions, it can disrupt the business operations. GC Custom Electronics can diagnose and repair a faulty printed circuit board. Contact our electronics repair Winnipeg services today.
