Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I'm not so snart...



The last few days I've been putting in long hours in the desert, building large structures out of steel. In the evening, I bring a truckload of stuff that needs to be fixed back to the duplex. The last few weeks I've been frustrated with my Makita drill/driver. I bought this thing back in the 90's and it's the best all around tool I've ever owned. It's got an expensive habit of going through NiCad batteries (around $35 each) and lately I had problems with the charger. Again. Last time I found a used one that I bought.


This time I decided I'd fix it or replace the guts with a 9v charger that I had laying around. So I took it apart and found a little circuit board inside that everything was wired to. I remembered that someone once told me that most service techs fix circuit boards like this: if there's corrosion they clean it off and then test the unit. If it works, they button it up, charge you $25 and go out to dinner on your dime.

If the cleaning doesn't work, they heat up a small soldering iron and lightly touch it to each connector on the board, reflowing the solder. They test it, and if it works, they put it together and charge you $35 and go out to dinner.

If that doesn't fix it, then it gets into deep dark secrets of leaking or clogged electrons, of which I know next to nothing, so I won't go there...


But I've learned that I can do the first 2 things. And you know what? I fixed the first one with the soldering iron ($5.95 at Radio Shack 10 years ago-came complete with solder). The second one I will do tomorrow.

Don't have to be genius, but a good memory goes a long way.

4 comments:

Chrissy y Keith said...

Good job! Keith would never part without his Makita either. I will have him read you post so he can lear about the circuit board stuff.

Tammara said...

The restoration of your sloop will pay off I'm sure. Looks like a neat boat (in your header image)? The Puget Sound where I'm at is depressingly cold! Happy sailing in warm waters!

1st Mate said...

Wow, you have TWO working chargers at one time. Nothing like having a backup.

MxSailor said...

Been awhile since I've been here! The other life I live is not letting me do this one often.

C&K: yes the soldering iron trick will save you tons of money and countless hours of waiting for repairs.

Tammara: Welcome! I hope to get a 3d model of the Flash online sometime soon. I used to live in Bellingham, so I'm familiar with the local conditions. Holler if you ever get this way, will take you out for a sail.

Bliss: Alas. The second charger couldn't be revived, a victim of salt water in the circuits...