Conducting SMPS troubleshooting is excruciatingly difficult, you're better off becoming a rocket scientist!
Alright, alright, I'm just joking…However, the fact remains that troubleshooting and fixing an SMPS unit is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
You see, most SMPS have very complicated circuitry architecture. And that's just for beginners…
A typical SMPS has almost a dozen circuit functions thus making things even more difficult for fledgling technicians! And don't get me started on the voltages and critical waveforms that involve several different segments of a SMPS.
I know all these stuff sounds pretty mind-boggling, however let me assure you that with adequate practice combined with the right SMPS troubleshooting guide, you'll eventually get everything down to a T!
And speaking of troubleshooting guide, there's one that will come in handy for anyone wishing to learn how to repair various switch mode power supplies. You can check it out by clicking here.
In the meantime, please take note of the following tips to ensure each and every troubleshooting case goes smoothly for you…
(A) Hone your sectional failure detection skill.
Learn to precisely identify SMPS sectional failure. This is a time-saving skill that you must acquire as soon as possible!
It'll save you a lot of time because once you're able to accurately detect which section is posing the problem, then you can simply direct all your focus and attention on that section alone.
Folks who are unable to identify sectional failure in a precise manner will wind up wasting a lot of precious time because they'll test every single section…Let me tell you, that's a very mind-numbing task!
(B) If there's a problem with the FET, DON'T simply toss out the power IC!
When I first got started on SMPS troubleshooting, one of the biggest mistakes I made was dumping away SMPS power ICs whenever I came across shorted FET located in the primary side.
Please do not make this mistake. If the power FET is shorted, then please make it a habit to inspect the power ICs thoroughly to find out if it's still working properly.
I believe in many shorted FET cases, the power ICs were never really affected. So how do you test the power ICs? Simple, just use a basic UC3842 IC tester.
(C) Hone your component testing skill.
This is another crucial, time-saving skill. Troubleshooting SMPS can be a real chore, especially if you're not familiar with a particular design. This means you have to test one component at a time!
Therefore, I suggest you hone your electrical component testing skill. Practice makes perfect after all. The better your testing skill, the faster you can complete the repairing task.
As I said, the right SMPS troubleshooting guide can do wonders for your repairing skills. It presents each repairing step in precise, photographic detail. If you need to download one, just follow this link: Downloadable SMPS Troubleshooting Guide
