Electronics repairs made for people on craigslist, as well as myself and friends and family.
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\documentclass[/home/layoutdev/Desktop/code/documentation_general/Latex_Compilation/2018/docs/3.tex]{subfiles}
\begin{document}
\section{Overview}
User spilled tonic water on a laptop, then kept it powered on and continued to use it (this was a mistake. Turning it off, and removing battery / power, letting the liquid dry, is always the first step in a spill). The next morning the laptop would not power on.
\section{Equipment}
Laptop is an HP Pavilion 15 CS model. They are fairly new (date codes on micros are from 2018), and retailing around 500-600 dollars as of just before 2019.
\includegraphics[scale=0.2]{../pics/DSCN1016.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{HP}
\section{Disassembly}
There is no video tutorial on this online, but the steps are: Remove visible screws from the back of the case. Remove rubber feet, and screws beneath them. Pry open case from edges with plastic spudger tool to remove the clips. You must be careful, as the clips and case are fragile.
\begin{itemize}
\item Where to start with the spudger, and also showing the screwholes underneath the rubber feet.
\includegraphics[scale=0.2]{../pics/DSCN1019.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\item I was able to scratch the case with the plastic spudger. Be careful!
\includegraphics[scale=0.2]{../pics/DSCN1021.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\item The case can also crack from pulling it. I didn't pull this hard, but the brittle weak case cracked slightly.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1022.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\item Finally we are in.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1023.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1024.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\item Screws are labeled, to help illustrate what size each is:
\includegraphics[scale=0.2]{../pics/DSCN1026.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Disassembly}
\end{itemize}
\section{Diagnosis and Repair Log}
Now we will try to find out what is wrong.
\begin{itemize}
\item Right away I can see some visible marring from a likely shorted component. This is where a lot of the soda residue is.
\includegraphics[scale=0.4]{../pics/DSCN1029.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Repair}
\item You can see a layer of cellophane that is in place to protect against spills. Amazing how millions of man hours can go into designing computers, yet a single glass of liquid can destroy one. Something is wrong, here. Crazy.
\includegraphics[scale=0.2]{../pics/DSCN1034.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Repair}
\item This switcher, the BACAAB (?) chip is the one that has the failed components. I need a replacement but can't find a data sheet on it. I tried probing at some of the pins to see what was going on, and if I could understand a bit more about this, but due to me probing too close to the pins, (and a few factors, primarily the small package, but no leads, and also the fact I should've used the pads NEAR but not ON the package, I shorted something, and a spark resulted. While I saw a 2.4V signal on a pin, after the short, I was unable to find anything. The battery being removed and replaced did not bring it back.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1036.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Repair}
\item At this point, this chip, which I am unsure of what it is, appears to have a short and is overheating / shorting. I will need to get a motherboard donor at this point, to further repair the mistakes. As these are new boards, motherboards are not yet cheap enough to make this viable, so I will wait and try again at a later date.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1037.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Repair}
\item During my troubleshooting, I did find an open resistor, and a capacitor that has visible charring on its solder joint. I'll need to replace these as well. I should've replaced this at first, but without a schematic, I don't know what value the cap should be. The resistor is labeled as 1R0, but reads open. There may also be one other cap that has failed. However, some other components appear OK.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN1039.JPG}
\captionof{figure}{Site of failed components from soda water spill.}
\end{itemize}
\section{Day Two}
I've received another motherboard in the mail. Unfortunately, I can NOT get the schematic for this motherboard, but I have an earlier HP version available. Maybe this is why people such as L. Rossman are successful - they focus on Apple, which has available schematic and layout... I have no layout either.
Looking at this similar schematic, it's important to focus on what matters. checking power rails, I know I need to start at the beginning. Also, when looking at other schematics outside of the power rails you can see what inputs into them and what is relevant.
\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/what_is_important.jpg}
\captionof{figure}{I'm worried about the AC adapter input. All the battery circuitry can be ignored to start, as there is no battery. First I need to follow PRWSRC and VAD...}
\vspace{0.2in}
Interestingly, there is a discharge IC. A IC for discharging caps. New to me. They call it a charge pump on the G5934 data sheet, but schematic says Discharge IC... I think same thing. There are discharge pins on the G5934.
\section{Day Three}
I replaced some of the transistors, (original one of them had burnt out) and I was able to use the toaster, and solder paste to reflow the QF no leads package. I think it came out good but haven't tested it yet. However, I had some trouble trying to desolder some passives, with a wick and a small tip. The lesson here is, if you are going to desolder things off a laptop, you need a hot air station, or a toaster. I shouldn't ever try solder wick on these tiny packages again... I should also watch some rossman videos as a reference. But I need a temperature controller hot air station. I don't even think the butane torch / soldering iron would work, as I tried it yesterday, and it failed. The butane torch / iron works on leaded solder, but not on deleaded solder.
\vspace{0.2in}
So I'll need a hot air station to do any laptop repairs going forward. Need the right tool for the job. Or I have to use the toaster, which works if you flood the area with solder paste. Hot air station seems more straightforward. For now, I am putting this repair off, as I'm frustrated with the process, and how antagonistic tech companies are to repairs. It's swimming upstream. I have not conceded defeat yet though. Another motherboard, and I can give this a chance again.
\subsection{FET Replacement}
I burnt out one of the FETs after the original damage was done to a part\footnote{I think the part I damaged was the 5 / 3.3V Reg.}, but luckily, there are two being used, so I was able to take the pin for pin identical (though lettering was different) mosfet and replace it. Looking at the similar schematic I have in resources, I think I should be OK.
\includegraphics[scale=0.5]{../pics/twotransistorreplacement.png}
\caption{Similar mosfets in this schematic...}
\end{document}