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What To Look For When Doing Electronics Testing

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When you are going to test electronic components, there are various things to look for that will help your testing easier.

• Capacitors: Before you start testing the capacitor, notice if there is any damage to it. If the capacitor you are checking is damaged, you’ll notice either arcing or burning at the insulator. You will also notice an oily film at the top or under the capacitor. You may even smell a scent of oil around the capacitor. Of course, the most obvious distinction for a bad or damaged capacitor is if the capacitor is bulging. This means it is on its way out and needs replacing. Resistors: Before you even start testing resistors you need to do a visual check. Look for any visual flaws in the part including burnt marks or spots. If the resistor is completely burnt, it is useless. At this point you need to simply replace it. Of course, if the resistor is so burnt that you can’t see the color bands on it, you will need to get the schematic of the circuit to find out what resistance will be. This way you can replace it with the right resistor. Also, check other components around the resistor. If another part went bad, it may be sending more voltage through the resistor then the resistor can handle.
• Diodes: A damaged diode is burned or cracked. You may even detect a nasty smell from the diode. If you still wish to test it you will need either a diode tester or a multi-meter.
• Transistors: A transistor is the most complicated component to test. If your tester has a transistor function on it, great, you are in business. If it doesn’t you will need to figure out what the transistor is doing by the readings you get. A transistor tester is the best device to do this since it is more accurate. Transistors are made two ways: NPN (Negative, Positive, Negative) or PNP (Positive, Negative, Positive).

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