From electronics manufacturing companies to academic institutions, the term “electrician’s pen” is their endearment to the soldering iron. Available in different wattages, the simple tool made of a sharp pointed end, a heating element and a wooden handle can repair even the biggest LCD screen televisions and even top-performing computers or smartphones.
However, fixing these items with a soldering iron require advanced electrician education because of their minuscule and geometrically dependent parts.
Beginner to intermediate electricians with or without trade experience yet could use a soldering iron could repair these common South African household items.
Malfunctioning Earphones
A standard-issue iPhone earbud, in-ear earphones or headphones often suffer from the headphone’s torn wires, which affect the signal from one or both channels. First-time electricians in the house need only a soldering iron, a pair of long-nose pliers, some electric tape, and a wire stripper to fix this small problem.
To find the troubled section of your earphone cable, bend the cable carefully, making an angle between your thumb and pointer finger. The audio jack is the common problem source for most headphones, but the problem stretches deeper into the length towards the earphones sometimes. When the audio from one or both earbuds drops out, you have found a winner.
Now, mark this area with tape then splice the cables in this area. Observe the inner shielded wire and the wires running along the shielding of the inner wire. Remove at least half the length of each section you cut the wire from and proceed to solder the inner wire to the inner wire of the other and the outer wire to its counterpart as well.
You can choose to wrap the two halves together with electrical tape or use a heat shrink to finish.
Old Radios
Radios are boxy and have bigger circuit boards than LCD televisions. Its parts are not too geometrically dependent, making it easy for novice Atlanta electricians to unscrew, remove and replace these radio parts. You would need a set of precision screwdrivers, an electronic contact cleaner, and a soldering iron to repair or clean radio circuit boards.
Scratchy noise and inaccurate AM/FM dial settings are likely due to dirt encrusted in the printed circuit boards inside radios. Cleaning only needs an electronic contact cleaner for daily-used radios, but for older and neglected radios, you may need to replace the solder on some contacts.
Take care to sharpen the end of your soldering pen before attempting to replace the solder in older circuit boards because it will improve the precision landing of the melted solder into the contact.
Dead Electric Fans
Deteriorated parts or power-surged caused problematic internal wiring are primary causes of electric fan death (and almost any other electronic appliance.) Dead or bent wires leading to terminals could be a leading cause.
You would need a Philips or flathead screwdriver (depending on your fan switch’s screws), a multi-voltage tester and a soldering iron.
Remove the bolts from the switch or the case of your appliance. Check the wires on the power switches. Remove them and complete a circuit without the switch. For anyoone who has a dead electric fan, get in touch with:
Atlanta Electrician
224 Mitchell St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 594-5672
If the fan turns on after you plug it in, then the switch has the problem. Buy a replacement switch and re-solder the wires accordingly. If not, you may need to re-wire your fan. Re-wiring is an advanced electrician’s skill, which means you may need to buy a new fan or ask a repair facility for professional help.