Cross Training

[revengus]

Hi Guys, I am new here and seeking some advice.
I have 20 odd years of experience in engineering and electronics but very specific military stuff to begin with and now quite specialised in underwater acoustics and underwater data collection. The thing is this, i would like to start to learn about electronic repair, i.e. things in the home. An example, I have an emergency light that doesn't come on when the power cuts anymore, I know something on the board is broken but without a circuit diagram I am stuck. I would like to have enough experience to fix basic things like this. I would appreciate if soomeone could point me in the direction of a book or online course but I am not looking for basic electronics theory/resistor colour codes etc.
Thanks in advance,
R

 

[(*steve*)]

Take some photos (both sides of the board) and anything else that is relevant and we'll take a look at it.

I'm sure we'll come up with things you can check, with reasons why you should check them.

In general the first thing to check is the power supply. In your case the next thing to check would be the sensing and/or triggering.

In some cases the device you mention is as simple as a relay that is permanently pulled in by mains power, when the mains fails, the relay opens and the NC contacts connect power from the battery to the light.

In this case the potential faults are:

1) relay stuck
2) battery failed
3) charger for battery failed (so no power left in battery)
4) fuse failed (for battery)
5) lamp failed
6) device disconnected from mains, lamp always on, battery flat.

Those should be pretty easy to check.

 

[revengus]

Hi.
Thanks for the info,but that lamp si no longer with us due to me accidentaly shorting a capacitor and tuning for maximum smoke...... It was more the learning that I was interested in and the resources to do it.
Cheers