Testing Seaeye PCB’s

This topic has 5 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 11 months ago by liddelljohn.

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August 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm #2826

dynamic
Participant

Hi All,

Am interested to know whether most of the experienced Seaeye Supers test failed PCB boards down to component level.

I am not able to, maybe because i do not have enough knowledge, or is it just not practical to do that off shore. When a replacement is not readily available it would be good to be able to change the faulty component on the board.

we have Oscilloscopes and variable power supplies on most systems but do not know what trace on the scope i should be looking for, to prove that the board is ok

Do any of you know if Seaeye run an in house electronic course or should i take a course on fault finding in electronics? I have some knowledge on the function of the components but do not know how to test and prove a complete PCB for faults.

Any thoughts on this appreciated thanks

August 9, 2009 at 8:59 am #24347

Andy Shiers
Participant

One of the ideal concepts about Seaeye vehicles is the low maintenance of the systems. If certain PCB,s fail there is usually a very good reason for it ( In other words human error ) the parts which are inter changing like Fuses , Op controllers or IC,s are the only things to change otherwise they should be sent back to Seaeye to keep the warranty. However SeaEye do have certain courses to assist whereby you do not lose your warranty like Thrusters.
But in the maintenance manual there are certain procedures where you need to use a scope , If you are looking at other parts of the PCB,s where there are no maintenance help , then , I think maybe you should leave it well alone 😕

August 9, 2009 at 5:05 pm #24348

Ray Shields
Participant

Very few repairs to component level are done either offshore or even at onshore level these days.

It has been a long time since I have seen an oscilloscope on an ROV system and even longer since I’ve seen anyone under the age of 30 who could even use one!

🙂

August 11, 2009 at 11:41 am #24349

Anonymous
Guest

Unless you are a very competent electronic technician I wouldn’t attempt this.

1. It is highly unlikely that you will have a circuit diagram/schematic or even a block diagram.

2. You will need to identify components generally without internet or (old school me) a databook.

3. Given that the component is now broken/sub-optimal did you know what the "normal" signal looked like anyway?

4. Can you actually use a CRO? OOPs sorry DSO!

A lot of the knowledge of how to repair various items comes through years of exposure and a "systems based" knowledge of signal processing techniques i.e that component is an A-D, that is a FIFO, serial converter etc and must therefore be tied to that other component.

Having worked on allsorts from a 1943 Radar receiver using valves to surface mount microwave strip-line equipment I’d be the first to admit that I don’t know it all and learn something new every day but if you don’t know, learn before you touch especially if it’s the only PCB you have and you don’t have the required hand-skills (SMD soldering) or knowledge.

Does anyone here actually wish they had an AVO Model 8, I know I do!

Cheers

August 12, 2009 at 12:21 am #24350

Gordon Duncan
Participant

It the old days it was standard that Techs know electronics to component level and how to use an oscilloscope. However now it is just a case of if something breaks just replace it with a new one. However depending on both the company involved(whether they have spares) and the people it maybe impossable to repair a board.

It is good that you think the way you are thinking. You can get all the electronic data sheets through internet before you go. Also you can use software such as Orcad 16 to simmulate how the circuit should work and the type of outputs it should give on the scope. You would have a far, far, far superior knowledge than most people ofshore apart from the ETO of the vessel. Also all the Seaeye board diagrammes are in the manuals.

Many people in the industry call themselves electronic techs and only know how to check a diode, fuse or transistor. As you probably know this is not an electronic tech in the real world.

There is free software available online for circuit simulation you should check it out. Someting like Protel.

Keep thinking the way you do 😛 .

August 14, 2009 at 12:08 pm #24351

liddelljohn
Participant

The older circuit boards could be repaired in certain circumstances by a competent guy with right equipment offshore, I have done it on several systems …but the newer surface mount circuit boards are not repairable without specialist onshore service tools .
Most systems have spare boards anyhow so it has to be real emergency to do a board repair offshore now.
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