Watch a practical engineering video that explores the decision-making process of whether to repair or dispose of broken electronics. Follow along as the host tackles three broken items - a laptop, earbuds, and a mouse - while demonstrating various repair techniques including adhesive application, PCB removal, through-hole component replacement, and pad cleaning. Learn valuable troubleshooting tips and repair strategies through a hands-on mouse repair challenge completed within a two-hour timeframe. Gain insights into when repairs are worthwhile versus when replacement is the better option, with additional discussion on using thermal imaging for diagnostics.
Fix It or Trash It - A Guide to Electronics Repair Decision Making
Overview
Syllabus
I have a lot of broken stuff
Three broken items
A sad saga about a laptop
Embarrassing earbuds
Sentimental mouse
Can I fix the mouse in two hours?
Adhesives and screws
Ribbon cable and removing the PCB
Finding a replacement part
General tips on how to remove through hole parts
Cleaning out through hole pads
Tacking down a part temporarily
Did I complete the challenge on time?
Moment of truth
Key takeaways
What about using a thermal camera?
Taught by
Digi-Key
