SMD microphone testing

[Jane]

From time to time I must repair a mainboard where a SMD microphone is faulty, so I desolder the old and solder the new one.
Is there any way how to test that SMD microphone before soldering?
(It may happen that SMD microphone is faulty and a supllier
does not replace the SMD microphone that had been soldered)

[jeroen79]

You'll need some other way to make contact like little grabbers or by pressing it against some exposed pcb pads.
Or make some pointy bendy springy electrodes that you press the part against.

[RoGeorge]

If the microphone is electret type, please look into its datasheet for any special requirements of the soldering temperature curve.

Electret mics are usually very sensitive to temperature, so if they are heated too long or at a temperature to big while soldering, then the mic can loose a lot of its sensitivity or even become unresponsive. The damage during solder is not reversible, the main cause being depolarizing or even melting the electret inside.

[Jane]

So, no possibble testing ?

[jeroen79]

So, no possibble testing ?

You'll need some other way to make contact like little grabbers or by pressing it against some exposed pcb pads.
Or make some pointy bendy springy electrodes that you press the part against.

[Jane]

One thing is having good contacts but the other way is what I should measure on the output.
What voltage should I measure on the output. Must I use an oscilloscope or just DMM? Must I use an amplifier?

[RoGeorge]

One thing is having good contacts but the other way is what I should measure on the output.
What voltage should I measure on the output. Must I use an oscilloscope or just DMM? Must I use an amplifier?

- That is what you should have asked in the first place.
- Second, be specific. Tell what kind of microphone are you talking about, and what is the problem. If you don't know the exact model of the microphone, then at least put a picture of it, or tell where from is that mic.

If it's what I think it is ,but my mind reading ability are not so good sometimes , then a DMM on diode measuring setting might be enough. Be careful, microphones have a + and a -. Don't power them in reverse.