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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
Hello all,
I took a chance on buying a Scout 40 (a frequency counter/recorder made by Optoelectronics) used on Ebay, knowing full well that it was inoperative due to the original owner using a reverse polarity power supply by accident. My thinking was that it would be something simple like a blown diode or internal fuse. It was NOT a fuse or diode, but I did spot a badly heat blistered transistor like component. One oddity about this whole affair is that while I was experimenting upon the dead frequency finder, it actually powered up and began to run normally, so I know that the majority of the electronics must be fine, but then it failed and I have not been able to raise it from the dead since let alone find out what I did to make it run to begin with. Anyways, it's early morning and I am babbling. What I really need is help identifying and replacing this part: http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_1.jpg http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_2.jpg The part is just below the leftmost switch between it and a large mounting hole in the main board. It appears to have the same case style as a common surface mount transistor with the exception that it has five leads, which I am totally not used to seeing. The part number is "U13", and is marked L01B. There is a central heat blister indicative of catastrophic internal damage, and surely must be dead as a hammer, and it is indeed in the area of the main PCB that is responsible for power input and charging control. Anyone who can help me a bit with this, please do. I will be eternally grateful if I can ressurect this $360 (when bought new) item! Thanks MUCH for any help! Rick "The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" - Stephen Hawking --------------------------------------- Amateur Astronomy Page: http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/nightrunner/skyview.html Our Webcam: http://web.infoave.net/~missy1/cam/webcam.html |
#2
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
"NightRunner" wrote in message ... Hello all, I took a chance on buying a Scout 40 (a frequency counter/recorder made by Optoelectronics) used on Ebay, knowing full well that it was inoperative due to the original owner using a reverse polarity power supply by accident. My thinking was that it would be something simple like a blown diode or internal fuse. It was NOT a fuse or diode, but I did spot a badly heat blistered transistor like component. One oddity about this whole affair is that while I was experimenting upon the dead frequency finder, it actually powered up and began to run normally, so I know that the majority of the electronics must be fine, but then it failed and I have not been able to raise it from the dead since let alone find out what I did to make it run to begin with. Anyways, it's early morning and I am babbling. What I really need is help identifying and replacing this part: http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_1.jpg http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_2.jpg The part is just below the leftmost switch between it and a large mounting hole in the main board. It appears to have the same case style as a common surface mount transistor with the exception that it has five leads, which I am totally not used to seeing. The part number is "U13", and is marked L01B. There is a central heat blister indicative of catastrophic internal damage, and surely must be dead as a hammer, and it is indeed in the area of the main PCB that is responsible for power input and charging control. Anyone who can help me a bit with this, please do. I will be eternally grateful if I can ressurect this $360 (when bought new) item! Thanks MUCH for any help! Rick "The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" - Stephen Hawking U is a common designation for integrated circuit. i would go direct to the company first. http://www.optoelectronics.com/ they might send you a schematic as a courtesy. |
#3
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 06:15:23 -0400, NightRunner
put finger to keyboard and composed: What I really need is help identifying and replacing this part: http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_1.jpg http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_2.jpg The part number is "U13", and is marked L01B. It's a LP2980IM5-5.0 Micropower 50 mA Ultra Low-Dropout Regulator by National Semiconductor. http://www.national.com/appinfo/powe...68,484,00.html http://www.national.com/pf/LP/LP2980.html - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
#4
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
Hey man that was great of you, thanks!!! I'm checking out the
specifications PDF file now... If I can route 5V power around this thing, then I can at least test the rest of the device and ascertain whether there are any further damages. I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes with this! Thanks again! Rick On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 06:50:12 +1000, Franc Zabkar was reportedly seen on the White House lawn holding a large picket sign and screeching the following: On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 06:15:23 -0400, NightRunner put finger to keyboard and composed: What I really need is help identifying and replacing this part: http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_1.jpg http://www.projectradiantlight.com/S...ansistor_2.jpg The part number is "U13", and is marked L01B. It's a LP2980IM5-5.0 Micropower 50 mA Ultra Low-Dropout Regulator by National Semiconductor. http://www.national.com/appinfo/powe...68,484,00.html http://www.national.com/pf/LP/LP2980.html - Franc Zabkar "The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" - Stephen Hawking --------------------------------------- Amateur Astronomy Page: http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/nightrunner/skyview.html Our Webcam: http://web.infoave.net/~missy1/cam/webcam.html |
#5
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
Interesting news with this little bugger... I have it almost repaired!
Thanks to Franc's post, I got out two irons and very gently removed the regulator chip, and found as I should have forseen that this had zero to do with the unit being dead. The regulator's only job is to lower the 12v adapter voltage to 5v so it can run the unit without smoking it yet again. The real damage remained at that point unseen, and might have plagued me MUCH longer except that a tiny glint of copper caught my eye between the power and filter switches, and on closer inspection I discovered that it was another heat stressed part of the board. I very gently removed a large diode that this heat stressed trace ran beneath, and discovered much to my joy that it was completely burned in half. I then took a small piece of wire and completed the circuit with external batteries powering the unit, and presto, it powered right up, and ummm... stayed powered even after I removed the jumper wire. It must be a flipflop type of power on/power off toggle. Anyways, I carefully took the whole delicate in hand and got out one of my FRS walkie talkies, and it tests out perfectly. I still have some major repairwork to do, but I can't say how pleased I am... I've wanted one of these buggers like forever and just could never justify the expense. Now I have a fully functional $360 frequency recorder for a mere $60! Well, ok, a bit more than that after that IC, but still! THANKS both of you for helping me!! Now all I need is a new regulator IC and some VERY delicate work to repair that melted trace, and I'll be all set! :-D Rick "The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" - Stephen Hawking --------------------------------------- Amateur Astronomy Page: http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/nightrunner/skyview.html Our Webcam: http://web.infoave.net/~missy1/cam/webcam.html |
#6
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:05:35 -0400, NightRunner
put finger to keyboard and composed: Interesting news with this little bugger... I have it almost repaired! Thanks to Franc's post, I got out two irons and very gently removed the regulator chip, and found as I should have forseen that this had zero to do with the unit being dead. The regulator's only job is to lower the 12v adapter voltage to 5v so it can run the unit without smoking it yet again. The real damage remained at that point unseen, and might have plagued me MUCH longer except that a tiny glint of copper caught my eye between the power and filter switches, and on closer inspection I discovered that it was another heat stressed part of the board. I very gently removed a large diode that this heat stressed trace ran beneath, and discovered much to my joy that it was completely burned in half. I then took a small piece of wire and completed the circuit with external batteries powering the unit, and presto, it powered right up, and ummm... stayed powered even after I removed the jumper wire. It must be a flipflop type of power on/power off toggle. Maybe you had it switched on for long enough to partially recharge the battery??? - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
#7
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Optoelectronics Scout 40 with reverse power damage
THANKS both of you for helping me!! Now all I need is a new regulator IC and some VERY delicate work to repair that melted trace, and I'll be all set! :-D Rick a trick i learned long ago was to use bare 'wire wrap' wire to repair the thin traces. i don't know how commonly available it is anymore. one spool lasts approximately one lifetime if used only for repair work. |
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