[Boatanchors] Boatanchor folks: See?

[Ken Kaplan]

Those little bitty things are probably transistors AND/OR diodes in 
SOT-23 packages. Google SOT-23 to see. If so and you need to replace 
any, they can be removed with a soldering pencil although a hot air 
station works better. Installing replacements can be easily done with a 
pencil. The challenge might be figuring out what a suitable replacement 
is. There are usually only 3 to 4 markings on them. The only way I've 
been able to find out what they are is call ON Semiconductor tech 
support and as for a cross reference. You will probably need a 5x to 10x 
magnifier to read them. I do these things every day in my work. I call 
them chicklets (after the candy). How do you know they are bad?

Actually it is pretty easy checking those small semiconductor parts if 
you use a V/I tracker with a scope that has X-Y mode. I built my own 
tracker for about $40. It works like a frugal mans Huntron. After almost 
40 years of software engineering, I've gone back to my hardware roots 
and I'm having fun & getting paid :-)

BTW - I'll let you in on a little secret. Suspect all electrolytic caps. 
Especially if they bulge slightly at the top or bottom or if they have 
something like brown bird poop on their tops. Google the phrase 
"capacitor plague" to learn more. All my radio gear is tube based so I 
don't know about the yacomwood stuff. I could go on but I won't :-)

Ken
KB7RGG

On 12/15/2012 4:31 AM, David Stinson wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
>
> That's a good idea, Jim.  Thanks!
> Glenn:  Several parts need to be replaced, but the "rub"
> is a couple of those itty bitty switching transistors.
> I can barely see them. ;-)