PCB repair equipment question

dyno

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Messages
1,644
Reaction score
81
Location
Lower Mainland, Britsh Columbia
Looking to learn how to repair game pcbs, and was wondering if a logic analyzer or video probe would be a good piece of equipment to have. If anyone out there does repair them and has any advice to steer me in the right direction as to what equipment would be good to have that would be great.
 
The most useful things I have found so far:
1) DMM
2) logic probe
3) logic comparator
4) oscilloscope

In addition, a good set of schematics for the board you are working on and a set of data sheets for the logic chips.

Oh, and a working set to compare against never hurts.

ken
 
I use a logic analyzer about 80% of the time.

Same here -- an old HP 1631D... combination o'scope, logic analyzer, boat anchor and lawn mower - all in one. Super easy to use and works great for the real slow stuff on arcade boards.

But, for a beginner - start with a DMM and logic probe then work up from there.

Ed
 
Last edited:
Learn to read logic gates first... then you use the probe to check logic levels in and out of the gates.

Google for some logic primers. Learn how AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and other gates work. For example if input A is logic high and input B is logic high then output C is high. (if A=1 AND B=1 then C=1)

Once you get the hang of that then you'll know what the probe is telling you.
 
Back
Top Bottom