[Boatanchors] Boatanchor folks: See?

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

As I recall from my middle teenage years, a well positioned Black Cat 1.5 
inch firecracker worked very well when it came to the extraction of hard to 
get at capacitors or resistors. Since the extracted item was in a multitude 
of pieces, trying to test it for value, voltage handling etc. was rather 
futile! Play it safe, replace all of them! Then if the unit fails to work, 
you know it is due to a shorting power cord, as that is all that remains 
that you have niether tested and/or replaced!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Kaplan" <krkaplan at cox.net>
To: "Boat Anchors List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 11:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Boatanchor folks: See?


> 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. ;-)
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