[Milsurplus] Broke electronics

[Sheldon Daitch]

Gary,

I suppose the same technology that has given us $80 DVD
players is also that same technology that allows
us to manufacture boards for less money than it costs to
trouble-shoot 'em.

I don't know which is better, tho, I think from the
business model, it is a better deal, but from the personal
standpoint, it could go either way.

With me, at least I will take a look at something before
I trash it, maybe I can fix it, maybe not.

Had a problem with the Sharp Microwave at the house,
a few weeks ago, it quit working.  I realized that the
timer would still count down, so I popped the cover off,
and found that one of the three micoswitches (actually ones
made by Omron) was erratic, so in typical ham fashion, I
had to figure out how to get the switch out, and opened up,
to burnish some contacts, and get it going again.  Meanwhile,
it mounts not with screws but with plastic tabs from the
subassembly, and after ten years the plastic (you guessed it)
gets brittle, so I have to jury rig tie-wraps to secure the
switch in place, yet operate properly.  (And had to open it
up twice!!  Lucky me.)

Then I see over at WallyWorld, similar units, power and
size, for under $50.  At least I saved the $50, but there was
no way a service shop would have done the job for much
less than that.  Especially since they would have most
probably installed at least one new switch, and no doubt
the plastic subassembly would break and they'd have to get
one of those too.  A shop would not have sent the unit out
the way I fixed it, at least, hopefully not, but I can live with
what I've done, and I know what to look for the next time it
dies.

73
Sheldon
WA4MZZ






Gary Persons wrote:

>
>
> It is also a sad state of affairs because it is often cheaper to throw away
> a bad board rather then repair it. The cost of labor has exceeded the cost
> of the new board!
>
>
> Jeeze! Kids!
>