A lot of people are asking for the right to repair. Many people believe products should last longer, and therefore when broken, they should be repaired. This requires products to be designed for repair as well as support for repairers of all kinds. The goal of right-to-repair rules, advocates say, is to require companies to make their parts, tools and information available to consumers and repair shops in order to keep devices from ending up in the scrap heap. The surge in interest in right to repair is good news for consumers and environment, but it isn’t great news for those companies keen on planned obsolescence.
Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground article says that in USA both Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws to make it easier for people to fix cellphones, cars, even hospital ventilators. In Europe, the movement is further along.
Vice article The Right to Repair Movement Is Poised to Explode in 2021 article says that in USA fourteen states are exploring “right to repair” legislation as the movement gains steam. Whether it’s John Deere’s efforts to make tractor repair costly and annoying, Apple’s bullying of independent repair shops, or Sony and Microsoft’s attempt to monopolize game console repair, US corporations have done an incredible job the last few years driving bipartisan public interest in the “right to repair” movement. Last year witnessed monumental progress for right to repair and 2021 is expected to take the effort to an entirely new level.
In addition to the environmental impact of slowing the rate of expanding landfills there are also other benefits. A recent report by US PIRG found that repair monopolization comes with significant costs for American consumers. It also found that American families would save $40 billion ($330 per family) per year if they repaired more products and used them for longer periods. That’s of course
The French repair index: challenges and opportunities article tells that since January 1st 2021, France is the first country in Europe to have implemented a repairability index on 5 categories of electronic devices. While this index is a key milestone for the Right to Repair in Europe, it isn’t without limitations.
294 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can someone tell me why is not working??
Yes, it’s because you haven’t done any troubleshooting it appears. What is it? What does it do? What are the input voltages? What are the output voltages inspect the board closely? Do you see any visual defects or burn marks?
Tomi Engdahl says:
This screen cleaning mistake could cost you hundreds of dollars
There’s a right way and a wrong way to clean the screen on your laptop or smartphone. And the wrong way can wreck your display.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-screen-cleaning-mistake-could-cost-you-hundreds-of-dollars/
Is Rubbing Alcohol Safe For LCD Screens?
https://gadgetmates.com/is-rubbing-alcohol-safe-for-lcd-screens
No! Don’t use rubbing alcohol, Windex, Glass Cleaner, or any other ethanol or bleach based cleaner on your desktop computer or laptop’s LCD screen. These can leave permanent marks or “scars” on your screen and especially if done repeatedly, cause damage and clouding to the display. At minimum you’re going to strip away your screen’s glossy surface or matte finish. In the era where screens are a part of our daily lives, from smartphones to computer monitors, maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of LCD screens is essential. But rubbing alcohol is not recommended at all and it’s important to use safer alternatives to prevent irreversible damage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/03/07/motherboard-revived-with-simplest-1-8v-spi-shifter-ever/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://wololo.net/2023/05/08/crazy-hacks-2-drill-a-hole-in-your-chip-and-find-out/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/03/24/retrotechtacular-right-to-repair-1987/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/mixing-lead-solder-with-lead-free-solder/
https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/solder-bridging-pcb/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.quick-pcba.com/how-to-clean-a-circuit-board/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://manualmachine.com/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To Remove Electronic Components – PART 1 / Soldering Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-un9-ZsSQI
How to remove Electronic components is a neat guide showing common and uncommon methods to remove your soldered devices.
Including examples such as QFP + QFN IC removal and an easy AWESOME method for removing your header connectors. Also featuring various ways to remove Electrolytic capacitors including a really cool easy uncommon method , you will really love this one.
Part way through the video see how you can protect your plastic parts while using a heat gun close by with the cool silver foil tape method.
I have also posted a PART 2 of this video with more great examples of common and unusual removal methods that may help you in the future.
If you wish to see more future releases by Mr SolderFix please be sure to like and subscribe.
Thank you for your time and good luck with all of your soldering projects.
Tomi Engdahl says:
SMD Soldering Tutorial | Guide | Tools | Tecniques | Stencil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYInlAmPnGo&t=584s
Tomi Engdahl says:
iFixit and Lenovo Work Together to Make Laptop Repairability the Standard
https://www.ifixit.com/News/95395/ifixit-and-lenovo-work-together-to-make-laptop-repairability-the-standard-en
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Impossible Repair: Ribbon Cables
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/11/the-impossible-repair-ribbon-cables/
It’s problem which faces many a piece of older equipment, that ribbon cables of the type used on membrane keyboards start to fail as they become older. These cables are extremely difficult to repair as they can’t be soldered to, and since they are usually custom to the device in question. All is not lost though, as [Spare Time Repair] shows us with the cable on a Honeywell heating controller broken by a user attempting to remove the battery with a screwdriver.
Damaged ribbon cable – is it possible to repair?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blzp7SZVbUA
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/13/broken-lens-provides-deep-dive-into-camera-repair/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/14/power-resistance-isnt-futile/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/15/custom-polyurethane-belts-made-easy/
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nBwqiNiJ3Ac
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/21/ribbon-cable-repair-saves-touch-id/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/22/how-to-find-replacement-parts-when-model-numbers-dont-match/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jason Koebler / 404 Media:
Leaked contract: Samsung requires independent repair shops to notify Samsung, share customer data, and “immediately disassemble” devices with aftermarket parts — In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name …
Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People Who Use Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows
https://www.404media.co/samsung-requires-independent-repair-shops-to-share-customer-data-snitch-on-people-who-use-aftermarket-parts-leaked-contract-shows/
The contract requires repair shops to “immediately disassemble” devices that have parts “not purchased from Samsung.”
In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any phones that customers have brought them that have been previously repaired with aftermarket or third-party parts and to “immediately notify” Samsung that the customer has used third-party parts.
“Company shall immediately disassemble all products that are created or assembled out of, comprised of, or that contain any Service Parts not purchased from Samsung,” a section of the agreement reads. “And shall immediately notify Samsung in writing of the details and circumstances of any unauthorized use or misappropriation of any Service Part for any purpose other than pursuant to this Agreement. Samsung may terminate this Agreement if these terms are violated.”
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
iFixit and Samsung end their repair partnership after two years; iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens says that “Samsung does not seem interested in enabling repair at scale” — iFixit and Samsung are parting ways. … “Samsung does not seem interested in enabling repair at scale,” …
iFixit is breaking up with Samsung
/ ‘Samsung’s approach to repairability does not align with our mission,’ says iFixit’s CEO.
https://www.theverge.com/samsung/2024/5/23/24162135/ifixit-end-samsung-repair-parts-deal
iFixit and Samsung are parting ways. Two years after they teamed up on one of the first direct-to-consumer phone repair programs, iFixit CEO and co-founder Kyle Wiens tells The Verge the two companies have failed to renegotiate a contract — and says Samsung is to blame.
“Samsung does not seem interested in enabling repair at scale,” Wiens tells me, even though similar deals are going well with Google, Motorola, and HMD.
He believes dropping Samsung shouldn’t actually affect iFixit customers all that much. Instead of being Samsung’s partner on genuine parts and approved repair manuals, iFixit will simply go it alone, the same way it’s always done with Apple’s iPhones.
While Wiens wouldn’t say who technically broke up with whom, he says price is the biggest reason the Samsung deal isn’t working: Samsung’s parts are priced so high, and its phones remain so difficult to repair, that customers just aren’t buying.
Most importantly, Samsung has only ever shipped batteries to iFixit that are preglued to an entire phone screen — making consumers pay over $160 even if they just want to replace a worn-out battery pack. That’s something Samsung doesn’t do with other vendors, according to Wiens. Meanwhile, iFixit’s iPhone and Pixel batteries cost more like $50.
iFixit says the Samsung deal wouldn’t let it help local repair shops, either, because the contract artificially limited iFixit to sell no more than seven parts per customer within a three-month period. “We haven’t been able to get parts moving at the volumes needed to move the environmental needle,” says Wiens.
Last but not least, iFixit simply hasn’t been able to get official parts for the newest Samsung devices
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/05/24/locate-faults-with-the-leakseeker-89r/
Have you ever needed to hunt down a short circuit, but you’ve had no idea where it is or how it’s happening? As it turns out, there are tools to help in that regard. Enter the Leakseeker-89R.
The device is able to help hunt down short circuits that measure anywhere from 0 to 300 ohms. The device is typically used with two leads on a given pair of traces, and it has a display made up of red, yellow and green LEDs. As the leads are moved closer or farther from the short circuit, the display changes to indicate if you’re getting hotter or colder. There’s also a third lead that can be used to allow testing under more challenging conditions when there is a large capacitance in-circuit with the traces you’re testing.
Leakseeker-89R
A Handheld 0-300R short detection tool.
https://hackaday.io/project/196200-leakseeker-89r
Tomi Engdahl says:
Brandon Vigliarolo / The Register:
Colorado governor Jared Polis signs a right-to-repair bill that includes a strong ban on parts pairing and takes effect on January 1, 2026 — But the repairability war isn’t over, says iFixit’s Kyle Wiens — A right to repair rule just signed into law in Colorado is earning praise …
Colorado governor signs ‘best in the world’ right-to-repair law
6 comment bubble on white
But the repairability war isn’t over, says iFixit’s Kyle Wiens
https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/29/colorado_governor_signs_best_in/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/06/12/restoring-a-vintage-cga-card-with-homebrew-hasl/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Essentially your same fundamental EE knowledge, but with expensive tools due to SMD. (hot air reflow, digital microscope, logic analyzer, very high mhz or even ghz capable spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope, various sizes and package types of eeprom reprogrammers for dealing with roms and FPGAs, etc)…its a nightmare
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://sterepairs.medium.com/are-thermal-fuses-part-of-planned-obsolescence-a54d87473712
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.dailydot.com/news/mechanic-officially-been-locked-out-of-computer-systems/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/16387-10-vuotias-teholaeppaeri-takaisin-henkiin
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/07/08/hack-all-the-things-get-all-the-schematics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/07/09/build-your-own-16-mb-30-pin-simms-for-vintage-pcs/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/07/09/building-a-cassette-deck-controller-to-save-a-locked-out-car-stereo/
Tomi Engdahl says:
FIVE WAYS TO REPAIR BROKEN PCB TRACES
https://hackaday.com/2024/07/14/five-ways-to-repair-broken-pcb-traces/
When everything used wires, it was easy to splice them or replace them. Not so much with PC boards, but everyone has their favorite method for repairing a broken trace. [Mr. SolderFix] has his five favorite ways, as you can see in the video below.
https://youtu.be/kS1uVBIhBDw?si=POATFDkXyo3Vd7VV
Tomi Engdahl says:
FTC warns PC manufacturers Asrock, Zotac, and Gigabyte that consumers have the right to repair
Those stickers that say “warranty void if removed” are illegal
https://www.techspot.com/news/103669-ftc-warns-pc-manufacturers-consumers-have-right-repair.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/console-gaming/ifixit-releases-a-psa-on-whether-or-not-you-should-blow-into-game-cartridges
Tomi Engdahl says:
DIY Audio RCA Plug ( Male / Female) | Aluminium Made
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-RCA-Plug-Male-Female-Aluminium-Made/
This is a Aluminium sheet made custom RCA Plug, both male and female. So you’ll learn how to make one when you are out of plugs or your speaker one is broken. Now easily make one in home and replace the broken one or just use as a connector.
Tomi Engdahl says:
For most volume pots, and other rotary pots, use the DeoxIT® D5S-6, DN5S-6N (DN5S-2N) or D100S-2.
For slide switches/pots, conductive plastics, probably the best choice is the DeoxIT® Fader F5S-H6 and then the DeoxIT® FaderGrease if you require additional tactile feel; Search for Question: 18386
If you volume pot is relatively clean, you may just need deoxidizing and lubrication, then use the D100S-2. If the system subjected to lots of dust, dirt, oxidation or has just been sitting around for a long time, we would recommend either the D5S-6 or DN5S-6N (DN5S-2N). I personally use the DN5, since there is less dripping. See difference of the different sprays on this video: https://caig.com/deoxit-spray-selections/
Source: https://caig.com/Q&A/volume-pots-which-deoxit-product-do-i-use/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Shahram Mokhtari / iFixit News:
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold teardown: impressive repairability for a foldable, with a modular design that separates high mechanical wear parts like the USB-C port — The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has come a long way since the first generation Pixel Fold. That’s because unlike other foldable smartphones …
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold Nudges Foldables Toward Repairability
https://www.ifixit.com/News/100082/googles-pixel-9-pro-fold-nudges-foldables-toward-repairability
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has come a long way since the first generation Pixel Fold. That’s because unlike other foldable smartphones that have landed on our teardown table, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold takes a crack at repairability in a way that other foldables never did. And that’s a big deal for an $1,800 device that may or may not break within days of the warranty expiring.
Putting Foldables on the Repairability Map
We have the obvious repair wins, the highly modular design that separates high mechanical wear parts like the USB-C port and isolates it from the logic board, making replacements cheaper and easier. There’s the logical and intuitive layout of the internals and the uniform adoptance of 3IP screws that makes disassembly easy for the layman.
Then there are the less obvious repairability wins, from repair guides and a detailed Bill of Materials to spare parts that are available without malicious restrictions, the Pixel team has gone to great lengths to support your right to repair the device you paid for and own.
There’s really only a single criticism I’d direct at the Pixel 9 Fold from my own disassembly experience: the battery removal tabs. These tabs simply do not work, with or without the application of heat. They are flimsy and break often, require a second pair of hands to secure the device, and they fail to cut through adhesive reliably. Whether they should even try to cut through adhesive is debatable.
A Closer Look at the Hardware
As for the device itself, it prompted one of my colleagues—an iPhone user since forever—to say “this is nice, I’d switch to Android for this”. It’s a nice device alright, all the more interesting to examine through the lens of the Neptune CT scanner, but for all the complexity of creating a foldable I was surprised to see how much space is dedicated to the two battery cells. Over half of the phone’s internal area is occupied by the lithium polymer battery cells!
Google Pixel Fold Teardown: Inside Google’s First Foldable Phone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoeuyCIBGzM
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hands-on With New IPhone’s Electrically-Released Adhesive
https://hackaday.com/2024/09/22/hands-on-with-new-iphones-electrically-released-adhesive/
There’s a wild new feature making repair jobs easier (not to mention less messy) and iFixit covers it in their roundup of the iPhone 16’s repairability: electrically-released adhesive.
Here’s how it works. The adhesive looks like a curved strip with what appears to be a thin film of aluminum embedded into it. It’s applied much like any other adhesive strip: peel away the film, and press it between whatever two things it needs to stick. But to release it, that’s where the magic happens. One applies a voltage (a 9 V battery will do the job) between the aluminum frame of the phone and a special tab on the battery. In about a minute the battery will come away with no force, and residue-free.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/100352/we-hot-wired-the-iphone-16
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/09/24/replacing-selenium-rectifiers/
Old radios often had selenium rectifiers to convert AC to DC. The problem is that the old units, dating back to 1933, are prone to failure and to release dangerous chemicals like hydrogen selenide. [M Caldeira] has a new board made to fit a particular rectifier and also allows a varying voltage drop. The circuit consists of a few diodes, a MOSFET, and a pot for adjusting the voltage drop. An IRF840 MOSFET provides the adjustment.
Did it work? It did. The good news is that if it fails — which shouldn’t happen very often — it won’t release stinky and noxious fumes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMfBJIsDgkY
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://connectorbook.com/identification.html?Q=
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/10/24/simple-pcb-repairs-keep-old-vehicle-out-of-the-crusher/
Tomi Engdahl says:
It Is Now Legal to Hack McFlurry Machines (and Medical Devices) to Fix Them
https://www.404media.co/it-is-now-legal-to-hack-mcflurry-machines-and-medical-devices-to-fix-them/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Synth Repair: How to fix vintage synthesizers and drum machines yourself
Save money by doing minor repairs yourself at home.
https://www.gearnews.com/synth-repair/
Tomi Engdahl says:
US Copyright Office “frees the McFlurry,” allowing repair of ice cream machines
Soft-serve machines get a not-quite-parfait exemption to DMCA circumvention rule.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/us-copyright-office-frees-the-mcflurry-allowing-repair-of-ice-cream-machines/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=null&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2oG2JmGNjnFGmSVbyS-pkxMdO05QT5bMY3utMVAuuGxmT64AIp9HmPT2M_aem_k5k7L3I9gR6OE3th3leKcw
Consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge today hailed a decision by the US Copyright Office to “grant an exemption specifically allowing for repair of retail-level food preparation equipment—including soft serve ice cream machines similar to those available at McDonald’s.”
The group, which teamed with iFixit to request the exemption last year, said the government ruling will “free the McFlurry.” Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Meredith Rose called the decision a victory for “franchise owners, independent repair shops, and anyone who’s had to bribe their kids with a chilly treat on lengthy road trips.”
Exemption covers retail-level equipment
As Public Knowledge notes, “Section 1201 of the DMCA makes it illegal to bypass a digital lock that protects a copyrighted work, such as a device’s software, even when there is no copyright infringement.” Public Knowledge and iFixit jointly petitioned for a repair exemption covering diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial equipment.
The exemption does not include commercial and industrial food preparation devices.
Error codes unintuitive and often change
While ice cream machines aren’t the only devices affected, the Register’s recommendations note that “proponents primarily relied on an example of a frequently broken soft-serve ice cream machine used in a restaurant to illustrate the adverse effects on repair activities.”
Proponents said that fixing the Taylor Company ice cream machines used at McDonald’s required users to interpret “unintuitive” error codes. Some error codes are listed in the user manual, but these manuals were said to be “often outdated and incomplete” because error codes could change with each firmware update.
Difficulties in repair related to “technological protection measures,” or TPMs, were described
The Register noted a lawsuit against McDonald’s filed by Kytch, which sold a product to McDonald’s restaurant owners to help them keep the ice cream machines running. Kytch sued McDonald’s in 2022, alleging that the fast food chain and Taylor “joined forces to drive Kytch out of the marketplace.” Kytch and McDonald’s now say they are working on a settlement.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers argued at a hearing that repair activities do not require the circumvention of TPMs because almost all of those repairs are mechanical in nature. More opposition came from the Entertainment Software Association, Motion Picture Association, and Recording Industry Association of America, which were collectively referred to in the Register’s recommendations as Joint Creators I.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Computer Repair Shops Are Struggling: Why My Business (and the Industry) is Doomed
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk8x0iRr2ek
“In EU it’s quite easy to find spare parts but there are so many low quality ones, and customers look up for parts and choose the cheapest ones. For example, a couple months back, I told a customer his iphone 14 would cost 300€ to replace his display for a genuine one, and he told me he found a 20€ display. I had to explain about about that display and he wouldn’t listen. I refused the job.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
20 MacGyver-Style Repairs That Totally Work
We asked our readers to show off some easy solutions to life’s little annoyances using stuff you can find around your living space.
https://www.cracked.com/pictofacts-305-20-macgyver-style-tricks-fixing-everything-in-your-life
Tomi Engdahl says:
AT and ATX PC computer supplies schematics
On this page i collect the schematics of switching supplies for Computers (SMPS) ATX v 1.0, ATX v 2.0 and some AT, which i found on internet. I’m not the author. The author is noted usually directly in the schematic.
https://danyk.cz/s_atx_en.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawGj-uVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHevs95HB8bnKGZO4C0Wy9HKrplQuMJQYvv4PK9P256Ra9yC6VOK1CS5ang_aem_l8MoRuqEk8TNRNrYtJOlNg#google_vignette
Convert ATX PSU to Bench Supply
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/blog/convert-atx-psu-to-bench-supply.html