At some, you’ve faced electrical flaws at home and while at times it’s rather easy to figure the source of your problems, the majority of times you’re left pretty much baffled. While there’s never a favorable time to experience electrical faults, they tend to happen at the worst possible times.

These defects pose a significant danger too. Needless to say, always contact a professional electrician if you suspect any defects in your electronic that may require repairs.

To grasp how to deal with electronics problems you need to start by knowing the components that make up electronic since that is where most problems start. Below are five tips to help you gain a better understanding common electronics problems.

1. Fan failure is a leading cause of problems in your electronics

Fans rank among the leading causes of power failure in electronics. As the sole electro-mechanical moving part integrated into a power supply, fans are susceptible to failure even in the perfectly designed power supplies.

Many a time, we see the ‘no-fans’ requirement branded on equipment only for their user to add fans to rid the system of excess heat.

The proliferation of fake fans into the market plays a huge role in adding to many electronic problems we face today. Whenever you decide to replace or add a fan to your electronic gadget ensure you shop in reputable stores.

2. Understand the role of capacitors and how to ensure they last long and where to buy original capacitors

Regardless of popular opinion, lots of progress is underway in capacitor technologies; however, capacitors are prone to failure if overused or if you replace existing ones with counterfeits.

Capacitors, specifically electrolytic, exhibit failure in some ways such as; leaking, swelling, exploding, shorting, and reduced capacitance or heightened-in-circuit ESR. At times surplus heat leads to capacitor damage.

Leakage of chemicals can occur in electrolytic capacitors which results to further damage corrosion, thereby eroding PCB traces.

To avert failures, buy capacitors from reputable brands. Also, ensure capacitors don’t overheat. Note that an electrolytic capacitor has a storage life of not more than two years without current running through the power supply; which is often overlooked.

3. Understand the workings of power components

Power switching components that take the full force of the power supply results causes failure when heat sinking is insufficient, or when the drain over-current, drain over-voltage, internal anti-parallel diode or gate over-voltage is over-stressed.

Derating and appropriate design of components go along way prolonging the power switching components useful life.

4. Understand control ICs

Control ICs operate in unusual regions and sophisticated devices such as FPGA, and if misapplied or misunderstood, may lead to failure. Some of the misapplications include improper clock operation which makes the control IC prone to oscillation or noise.

To prevent failures with control ICs, understand the start-up conditions well. Soft-start modes, current limiting, spacing, proper gate drive; must be done for stable operation in all states.

5. Understand the environmental causes of electronic problems

Environmental issues include moisture seepage like in medical equipment during the cleaning of equipment with liquid disinfectants that enter the powers supply through ventilation and fan ports.  Te moisture corrodes the electronics leading to failure.

Other environmental issues include lightning strikes and induced power surges and transients. Use surge protection devices to safeguard your electronics.

Some environmental concerns are under our control by design while others can’t be controlled.