Learn the methods expert technicians use to find and repair faults in all kinds of consumer electronics. "How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic" explains, step by step, how a hobbyist with a bit of technical aptitude and basic test equipment can diagnose and repair electronics products. The book introduces the test gear required and explains how to use it. This detailed guide reveals potential dangers that lurk beneath a device's outer layers; what kinds of problems are typical for various products; how to use thought experiments and reasoning to diagnose problems before opening the case; how to read a schematic's signal flow; how to zero in on the problem; and, how to repair it. Many examples from real-world repair cases illustrate the techniques. You'll learn from a master repair technician who has 'been there and done that' with a wide range of products. "How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic" teaches the hobbyist the wisdom and tricks of an experienced technician - knowledge that has been won through long experience. It provides an up-to-date guide that covers everything from aging technology that's still in use - VCRs, turntables, camcorders - to the latest equipment such as DVD players, MP3 players, LCD TVs, and DLP projectors. It clearly explains test equipment and its uses. It also teaches the art of diagnosis, which actually constitutes most of the work in repair. It empowers you to repair a wide range of consumer electronics with techniques that can be applied to projects beyond those in the book. It covers safety issues and helps you avoid wrecking the product. It includes a section on common repair problems for PCs. This title offers step-by-step coverage of: Prepare for Blastoff; Setting Up Shop - What You'll Need; Danger, Danger! Staying Safe; I Fix, Therefore I Am - The Philosophy of Troubleshooting; Naming Names: Important Terms, Concepts and Building Blocks; Working Your Weapons - Using Test Equipment; What Little Gizmos Are Made Of - Components; Roadmaps and Street Signs - Diagrams; Entering Without Breaking - Getting Inside; What the Heck is That? - Recognizing Major Features; A-Hunting We Will Go - Signal Tracing and Diagnosis; Presto Change-o-Circuit Boards and Replacing Components; That's a Wrap-Reverse-Order Reassembly; and, Aces Up Your Sleeves - Tips and Tricks for Specific Products.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Prepare for Blastoff: Fixing is Fun!; Chapter 2. Setting Up Shop: Tools of the Trade; Chapter 3. Danger, Danger! Staying Safe; Chapter 4. I Fix, Therefore I Am: The Philosophy of Troubleshooting; Chapter 5. Naming Names: Important Terms, Concepts and Building Blocks; Chapter 6. Working Your Weapons: Using Test Equipment; Chapter 7. What Little Gizmos Are Made Of: Components; Chapter 8. Roadmaps and Street Signs: Diagrams; Chapter 9. Entering Without Breaking: Getting Inside; Chapter 10. What the Heck is That: Recognizing Major Features; Chapter 11. A-Hunting We Will Go: Signal Tracing and Diagnosis; Chapter 12. Presto Change-o: Circuit Boards and Replacing Components; Chapter 13. That's a Wrap: Reverse-Order Reassembly; Chapter 14. Aces Up Your Sleeve: Tips and Tricks for Specific Products; Glossary; Index

About the Author

Michael Jay Geier began operating a neighborhood electronics repair service at age eight that was profiled in The Miami News. He went on to work in numerous electronics service centers as the "tough dog" tech, solving cases that baffled the other servicers. Michael was a pioneer in the field of augmentative communications systems, helping to develop speech synthesis systems for children with cerebral palsy. He has written technology features for Electronic Engineering Times, Desktop Engineering, IEEE Spectrum, The Envisioneering Newsletter, 73 Amateur Radio Today, and Radio Fun.