How-to Test Electronic Components

Good day!

This how-to is the first of a series of how-Tos that I will be writing for this weblog about testing electronic components. 

Designed to cover for the different types of sensory modalities of learning. from visual to kinesthetics.  

The visual, aural and kinesthetic part will be covered by a video which I will be uploading to my YouTube Channel and will be inserted in this post, while the reading/writing learning shall be covered by this post,

Moving forward.

There are four common conditions that one needs to look for when determining if an electronic component have failed.  These are:

1. Change in rated value
2. Open 
3. Shorted
4. Leaky

fig. 1

These conditions, when found in any electronic components would mean a defect, and that component needs to be replaced.

Each electronic component requires specific method of testing, for passive components like resistors and capacitors, the first method is to test if these components have changed in their rated values.

For a resistor, the first step is to learn how to decode its color-coded values and a multi-meter, a Digital Meter to be exact is highly recommended for measuring its nominal rated value. (Fig. 1)

For the capacitors however, testing its rated value would require a specialized testing equipment, a capacitance meter. (Fig. 2)

fig. 2

Although, regular Digital Meters might have a built-in capacitance meter, a serious electronic student, hobbyist, enthusiast and definitely a technician is required to use a capacitance meter since it can cover a wider range of capacitance, and types of capacitors.

Testing for Open, Shorted or leaky conditions

For these conditions, a regular multi-meter set in ohmmeter mode is sufficient, a digital is preferred by many, but for me I prefer to use an analog meter instead.  I only use Digital meters, when my intention is to measure its value given that it is more accurate than an analog meter.  for testing of components condition, however, I prefer analog meters,

The following video from my YouTube Channel, will show how to test the other three conditions using an analog meter, to include testing if the component has changed in value.

If you have learned something from this post / topic, please feel free to comment and don't forget to like and follow this page and like and follow the video, and my channel. Cheers!

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