Cash jobs for hobby electronics repair? Too difficult for me :(

[KoroKoro]

Well, it looks like I require the services of an electronics expert.

Unfortunately its just too difficult for me to work this out by myself.

Perhaps someone here might be able to point me in the right direction of someone who understands hobby RC electronics well?

Over the years, I've managed to break 2 electronic speed controllers and 2 radio sets.  3 of 4 have quite a bit of sentimental value to me so I don't want to chuck it out.

I'm sure these odd jobs would be a piece of cake for someone of the likes of Dave, especially as I live just around the corner from him... though I understand he's a busy man.

I hope someone on here can help me out $$$

[rstofer]

The approach taken by experts to troubleshoot random equipment might make a fine 'fundamentals' video.  Seriously!  Approach him and ask.  What have you got to lose?  Besides, the rest of us have a lot to gain.  Troubleshooting is an art!

[retiredcaps]

Seriously!  Approach him and ask.  What have you got to lose?

Dave might do it, but in mailbag 906 he clearly states he doesn't fix electronics for other people.  Someone sent him a Yamaha keyboard to fix (25:46 mark).

Dave may refer to someone who is competent though.

[Simon]

I have often been asked to do little repair jobs at work for people. If it's just a matter of soldering a piece of wire somebody who doesn't have an iron I don't mind but I don't have the wealth of experience required to-do repairs and troubleshooting is indeed an art and a nightmare. The last person who asked me which is our works manager seem to think I could just glance at it and work out what the faulty part is. Although it was pointed out to him that for £40 he could buy replacement and considering the circuit board had been contaminated with a corrosive solution I just resolved to leave it lying around until he got the message.

If somebody has a good understanding of radio control staff it might be easy for them to look at. The problem with repairing staff is no matter how good an engineer you are or a designer you have to understand the original design before you can work out what the problem might be. As a kid I often swapped resistors in TVs that had burnt out only to see them go up in smoke again.

[Kilrah]

I usually only attempt repairs for close friends, if there's significant "reputation points" to gain in the environment I'm in, or if it's really simple and will obviously take me less than 5 mins.

Only very exceptionally will I do more if the person genuinely understands that my time doing it has value, that said time might quickly amount to some significant figure if I have to figure out something complex, and that regardless of the time spent there's a risk the repair attempt doesn't work out in the end or even worse damages the device further.

[divelectservices]

Specifically what items do you need repaired and what is the problem with the items?

[JoeO]

It sure would help if you let us know what country you live in and where you specifically live.

[Kilrah]

+1, you can probably get help for DIY from people here.

For the record there may not be a resaon to be ashamed about frying the ESCs... nowadays with cheap Chinese stuff some are really much more fragile/unreliable than they should.

[daybyter]

Check rcgroups for help?

[retiredcaps]

It sure would help if you let us know what country you live in and where you specifically live.

OP says right around the corner.

I'm sure these odd jobs would be a piece of cake for someone of the likes of Dave, especially as I live just around the corner from him... though I understand he's a busy man.

[Brumby]

I usually only attempt repairs for close friends, if there's significant "reputation points" to gain in the environment I'm in, or if it's really simple and will obviously take me less than 5 mins.

Only very exceptionally will I do more if the person genuinely understands that my time doing it has value, that said time might quickly amount to some significant figure if I have to figure out something complex, and that regardless of the time spent there's a risk the repair attempt doesn't work out in the end or even worse damages the device further.

This is pretty close to my attitude.

Over the years, once people found out I know something 'bout 'lectricity, I would find a range of things offered up for my 'magic touch' (Oh, I wish).  Needless to say, some of the items I'd never seen the guts of, let alone done any troubleshooting.  My response was "I make no promises, but I'll have a look".  Knowing the basics and having a meter can get you only so far on unfamiliar equipment.  Being able to read a schematic puts you in the game ... assuming there is a schematic you can get your hands on.

Louis Rossman gives a sage piece of advice on this subject - just stop a moment and spend some time having a good look for physical signs.  Heat affected/damaged components/traces, solder joints, loose connectors, corrosion or even just a broken wire.  Dirt/dust are also candidates.  Just look for any signs - things that you would not expect to see on an item just out of the factory.  This is no guarantee, but you'll be amazed just how many problems turn out to be solvable by simple observation.

My best example (that comes to mind at the moment) was a car radio/cassette player.  I was told the radio was OK but tapes were not.  With these things being somewhat compact, I dreaded the idea of getting inside, but a quick look down the cassette slot and I could see the heads ... completely covered in brown.  Ten minutes with some alcohol and some long stemmed cotton swabs brought back some shiny metal.  Nothing was opened - aside from my eyes.


Have a look.  Post some photos.  Give some symptoms.

[alsetalokin4017]

The last time I tried to fix something for a friend it was a gate opener remote control that didn't work. I researched the circuit on google, changed the battery, scoped it to see if it was in fact emitting codes to the input of the RF circuit, but couldn't really test the RF output because it was above the frequency range of my equipment. It seemed fine within the limits of my testing.  But I went ahead and ordered a small lot of the RF output transistors and replaced the one in the unit with a new one anyway. (At my expense and time... how can you charge a friend for replacing a 50 cent transistor in an eleven-dollar remote?) Returned it to the friend with a shrug and a "try it out". He came back a week later and said it still didn't work.

Long story short-- the manager of the property had changed the entry code on the gate opener and didn't tell my friend about it.             

[Brumby]

I hear you.

Sometimes we do jump in too quickly, don't we?   

[Simon]

For the record there may not be a resaon to be ashamed about frying the ESCs... nowadays with cheap Chinese stuff some are really much more fragile/unreliable than they should.

You just replace the ESC, Mtroniks in the UK are i believe world renowned for good stuff (some of their stuff goes into military as well).

[SL4P]

I'd offer to help, but from experience the biggest challenge is often not fixing the gear... after fixing it, you have to be confident the rebuilt assembly is fit for purpose, which means mechanical and electrical stability under rated conditions.

Your quad, or power boat/plane could die unexpectedly if the unit fails again, and you won't like me if your $2000 model is in pieces 2km away!

This then brings in the jury-rigging of a controller and load to test the unit without burning it out again.

What happens if it fails again? Do I charge you twice, or only once - and return a cooked ESC?
Sometimes it's the 'easy' things that are hardest to fix!

[Galenbo]

The approach taken by experts to troubleshoot random equipment might make a fine 'fundamentals' video.

Someone with near-zero electronics-engineering knowledge, but monkey-do experience with repairing that specific defective device, will beat the engineer every time.

I am open to repair every device you want. Give me the schematics, provide me the source to the obsolete parts, give me the calibration procedures and parameters, and say if you want me repair 1000 or 10000 items a year. The price for <1000 is the same as the price for 1000.

[oldway]

Perhaps you can find some help in Sidney here:

http://theconversation.com/repair-cafes-are-about-fixing-things-including-the-economy-26244

[eKretz]

I just finished repairing a Motor Control Unit for a Whirlpool Duet front loader washing machine I got for free because it was broken - apparently the MCUs are a common failure point - at a replacement cost of $100 used and about $250 new. I was able to get it going again out of my spare parts bin just by tracing the circuit that had obvious damage and checking components along the path back to the micro.

[michaelabbasi]

Hi, I am looking to repair the MCU of a Whirlpool duet washer and really lost as to the parts are, they dont have any numbers to identify and order a replacement. The Bridge rectifier and the Power transistors(all combined in one package) have no id's. Would appreciate any help in this regard. Thanks.

[michaelabbasi]

Hi, I am looking to repair the MCU of a Whirlpool duet washer and really lost as to the parts are, they dont have any numbers to identify and order a replacement. The Bridge rectifier and the Power transistors(transistors are combined in one package) have no id's. Would appreciate any help in this regard. Thanks.

[michaelabbasi]

Here is the picture of the MCU.

[eKretz]

Start a new thread in the Repair forum section and I will see what I can do to help you out. I recall that the MCU on my unit had a blown rectifier, a bad diode and a bad BJT. None showed any physical damage, but the components were non-functional when I tested them. I am still using that washing machine today.

[Kerlin]

"Can you just take a look at it" (for free) answer - no way.
For my qualifications and licences I spent five years as a Telecommunications Technician then fourty years at night school covering all aspects of electronics.
I once run a TV repair shop were all sorts of things came in with no circuit available and fixed them day in day out by the truck loads.Yes, I know the secrets to fixing things without a circuit.
I worked in Asia designing software and hardware for mass production items which many of you have used.
I have done everything, yes everything in between.
I am currently in maintenance, repair, calibration and certification of heavy aircraft avionics systems, and I am an Engineer.

Don't tell me Engineers know nothing its a totally dumb generalization.
How do you know what they have done before and if they have a solid back ground in other areas.

You know how it goes - My mechanic will not service my car for free so I don't expect others to ask me to fix things for free.

I am very familiar with RC systems.
I have done work for manufacturers, I used to go around to agents and importers and tell them I would fix items returned form stores for a fixed price per item. Its called "piece work", its rugged work.
Among those customers were some RC importers.

Its not what you do, it needs the expertise and some basic equipment especially since it may involve RF, the equipment is not cheap.
In electronics we call RF the black art because to other technicians that are not familiar with it it seems like a black art.

Throw them away and buy some more its cheaper than paying some one who can do it.
If you did find such people on forums, you couldn't do what they ask or communicate with them anyway.
For example at the start I found I couldn't fix things because I couldn't even solder to a good enough level to fix things.
The guy who finally taught me to solder started out by saying "Its going to be hard to teach you how to solder because you already think you can".
Same goes for fixing things, you already think you can.