Sanwa Digital Multimeter and Yokogawa Digital Multimeter - Quick Electronics Notes on DMMs

Both multimeters are from Tokyo, Japan and products of the Sanwa Electric Instrument Co., Ltd and Yokogawa Electric Corporation respectively.

I have used both kinds of multimeters for electronic testing -- Sanwa multimeters for wider & quicker testing projects and Yokogawa multimeters for intensive & complex troubleshooting.

What I like best about Sanwa is the convenient range of pocket DMMs that I can carry around wherever I go. PM3, PM11 and the newer PM33 are some examples of this model type with an accuracy of between 0.7-0.8%

Other more advanced models from Sanwa include PC5000a (very accurate), CD771 and CD-800a -- which is quite popular in Singapore.

Among Yokogawa's test instruments, I like the 7555 & 7561 series of digital multimeters.

Recommended website: 
How To Test & Repair Electronic Components

Get the insider knowledge on how multimeters are used in actual testing. Includes projects & case studies. Click here to know more.

Dead Bulging Capacitors - Easy Tip to Prevent Dead Capacitors in your Electronic Circuit Board

This is one of the most common problems in electronic testing. Capacitors go dead when sudden voltage surges or other shocks exceed the temperature threshold that they can handle.

The result is domed, leaking and bulging capacitors which affect the working of the rest of the components till they are repaired.

So how do you prevent dead capacitors in your electronic circuit board? Simple.

Get capacitors that have a higher temperature threshold. That is, if a component requires a capacitor with a rated temperature of 105 degrees C, get one that's higher and solder it in instead of the usual capacitor.

That way, the capacitor is able to absorb voltage shocks better and will not go dead all of a sudden. Needless to say, this also saves you time and money due to frequent capacitor replacement.

Source Website

Electronic Testing and Repair - PCB Component Techniques

Computer Repair & Game Console Unlocking Business – It Pays to Specialize rather than Diversify

I run a computer repair business focused on fixing LCD monitors and unlocking/upgrading gaming consoles (Wii, PS3)

I find that focusing on a few areas is far more profitable that spreading your wings wide. While a general technician might seem to have more work, over time, the lack of focus  will eat into your income.

To do well as an electronics & hardware troubleshooter, focus on areas that you are good at. In other words – Specialize!

Mastering Electronics - Recommended Books, Magazines, Websites To Boost Your Mastery of Electronics

Popular Electronics and Nuts & Volts are two of my regular reads for mastering electronic techniques. I love the DIY projects and tips for amateur and pros alike.

Some of my favorite electronic books (specially involving troubleshooting techniques) are  the ones written by the great Robert Goodman. These are two of his books:

• Using the Triggered Sweep Oscilloscope

• Troubleshooting with the Dual-Trace Scope

As far as my continuing education in electronics goes, I get most of my current knowledge from these 4 amazing websites:

• LCD Monitor Repair

• Electronic Testing & Repair

• Plasma TV Repair

• Projection TV Repair

This covers the practical gamut of technical & engineering resources that I personally use to master electronics.

LCD TV SMPS Repair - 3 Reasons For The Buzzing Transformer Noise when the SMPS is turned on

I was recently repairing a 200W SMPS board of a LCD TV where the power supply had been restored to a certain extent using some nifty schematics.

Burned power supply (blown fuse) is one of the common reasons for SMPS failure, and without the right schematics, it can be a nightmare to find the cause of the problem.

When I turned on the power I heard a buzzing sound (noise) from the transformer. It was like a high whine...an expected yet annoying sound that needed to be fixed. And the way to fix it is to first look for any visible damage across the SMPS board.

Usually, there are 3 reasons why you're hearing that buzzing sound:
1. Bad filter caps on the input side
2. Bad diodes, leaky capacitors or bad optocouplers
3. Loose parts on the transformer that vibrate because of the transformer's magnetic field.

Source Website

SMPS Repair Techniques - Complete Electronics Download Course for Engineers

LCD Monitor Panel – Performance Lifespan of a LCD Display Panel

The LCD monitor panel isn't just a slab of glass that lights up when a high frequency electric current passes through it. It has a complicated array of in-built electronics, each of which has its own life span.

One of the main components of the panel, the CCFL backlight lasts up to 20 months (15,000 hrs). In comparison, the LCD glass itself lasts almost 6 years (50,000 hrs)

CCFL tube (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) is the most commonly used backlight in modern-day LCD monitors.