Bowens Gemini GM500 Pro Studio Flash | Official Repairer Couldn't Fix It | Can I FIX it?

A viewer called Steve asked if I'd be able to have a look at his Bowens Gemini GM500 Pro photographers studio flash unit that wasn't working correctly. He had already sent it to the official repairer but was told that the part wasn't available any more. Let's see if we can do any better and hopefully repair it!
I'm not an expert, but I do enjoy trying to fix things.
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#electronics #electronicsrepair #repair
Bowens Studio Flash Repair
Gemini Flash Repair
GM500Pro Repair
Gemini GM500 Pro repair
Faulty Gemini GM500 Pro
Broken Gemini GM500 Pro
Faulty Bowens Flash

[@XKSteve]

Wow! I am so grateful to you Mick for this repair and agreeing to take it on especially as I know you are quite busy at the moment. It is and has for a longtime, been a sad case of board swapping repairs to save money and time given the complexity of modern equipment. I remember the email we got in the technology centre telling us to just replace faulty units and even complete computers rather than diagnose the fault. Thank goodness there are folks like you still interested enough to go further and perform proper fixes. I really am struggling to find the words that fully express my gratitude to you for your work so a simple heart felt thank you will have to do. I am looking forward to recommissioning the Bowens GM500 pro and the modelling lamp will ease studio setups no end. Thank you - you are a star!

[@BER-UK]

Parts no longer available - hmm when resistors no longer become available we're all in trouble!

[@mash83]

They're probably referring to the whole board.

[@andygardiner6526]

@@mash83 Yes you are probably right. I've fixed £250 LED controller boards because the psu diode fries (it does cost 31p!) As soo as they are "out of warranty" the manufacturer only wants to sell you the entire replacement controller ...

[@kinggreene]

@@mash83 i doubt whether they even looked at it

[@mash83]

@kinggreene with how awkard it is to open and deal with - quite possibly 🤷‍♂️ but it's fair enough for this level of repair to not be dealt with by the company themselves. This is a board replacement (which may well not be available as they say) or a repair shop willing to put in the time and extensive investigation, probably outside the realm of economical repair. You just need a very good youtuber mate 🤔

[@darkknight145]

That's what happens when "Approved Repairers" are just board jockeys and not real techs.

[@renevile]

imagine how many things gets thrown in the rubbish because a 1 pence resistor fails.

[@richards7909]

Yup and it’s a shame. But for the average person who has to rely on a repair shop, it can become very expensive (and that’s not the repair shops fault, they need to make a living!) so unless the item is high value or difficult to replace then sadly off to landfill it goes :(

[@JohanlastZa]

This is why we should force them to release the schematics for all manufacturer electrical/electronic devices. Just because they are unable to fix things, does not mean the rest of the world is so useless.

[@Crazick]

Because of channels like this, is why my carpet cleaner hasn’t been thrown away. Fixed/replaced two pumps, a bearing, and a blown capacitor. I have it close to 10 years.

[@cheapasstech]

How many ps5’s get tossed because of a 2p cap

[@FixDaily]

@@cheapasstech you mean the on next to the HDMI port?

[@stevvieb]

Thank god for youtube and people like you passing on thier knowledge and experience onto us. Also sounds like the service center wasn't going to repair the unit, they were going to do an apple and just replace the inners with new parts. Makes a change for it to be a resistor and not a capacitor.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks mate 👍

[@chrissavage5966]

"can't get the parts" is presumably code for "we want to sell you a new one" given that 330 Ohm surface mount resistors aren't yet in short supply.... Nice fix.

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers, yes there's currently a run on 330 ohm resistors 😂😂😂😂

[@raygianelli3612]

Mick, just found your channel and watched a few videos. I appreciate your running commentary; it shows your thought process and theory of operation. I was really impressed with this particular repair, probably because I never worked on anything like it and wouldn't be sure where to start. Subscribed!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍I've never worked on anything like this before either 😂😂That's half the fun of it. I've pulled off some quite ingenious repairs, even down to software level and firmware corruption on some devices (Vtech baby monitor) being the most recent one I can think of 😊

[@JamieBulloch1]

I have these very studio lights (750pro and 500pro)'s, pretty super and bulletproof but it was very interesting to see inside, fyi Bowens as a company went out of business as of about 2017, so i really found this useful, many thanks....

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks, glad you found it interesting 👍🙂

[@bborkzilla]

I just fixed a couple "White Lightning" flash units. One had a broken IEC power connector and the other had a short between one of the legs of the xenon tube and the metal case. The manufacturer didn't want to work on those either. It seems anything over a few years old is a waste of time for them.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes,unfortunately most manufacturers would rather you buy a new one these days.

[@christophermarshall5765]

Nice fix. I can no longer do this sort of work.

[@mikejones8716]

Same here, I went blind in 2011, but, still good stuff

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks, shame. Yes I guess I'll be at that point some day too 😢

[@Lyndalewinder]

Wow - great fix and so much patience

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@tiggydorset9041]

The original repairers probably knew how much of a ball-ache it was to take apart and didn't want to touch it :D

[@XKSteve]

They are board swappers not fixers like Mick. They told me the “board” was not available anymore. I do computers and we get loads that are just failed components but companies won’t go that deep into a repair. NO profit.

[@TheSod70]

That was an amazing fix. I know nothing about electronics and it always amazes me to see you fix things that I know would normally just be junked. Awesome video!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍🙂

[@cecildramat-ps9eq]

Hi! there once again, I wonder if the tech who worked on this ever open it, to really see what the problem was. I don't think so. Hope they didn't charge him.

[@XKSteve]

Yep they charged 35£ knowing they could not fix it. And yep never opened it as I put some tell tails in place. Of course they denied it and it is impossible to sue for small amounts in the uk.

[@BuyitFixit]

Wow that sucks Steve.

[@tubeDude48]

You do some fine work!

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers Dude!

[@599miata]

You are good and lucky to find that bad resistor mate.👍👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@1kimdotcom]

Brilliant repair🥺

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@MikeyMack303]

Very nice work!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@darrenwardell3079]

Cracking job again👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers Darren 👍

[@nexpro6985]

Good job. Be careful, touch those capacitors when they are fully charged and it might be your last day.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks, yep pretty much what I thought too 👍

[@smbrob]

This flash is less accessible than an 80 years old maiden. 😬 And yes, a resistor like that is really obsolete, I bet they never did take it apart. Good repair.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂Thanks 👍

[@garymucher4082]

Since the resistor you removed did read correctly when you tested it later, what was the actual cause. Was it a mere cold solder joint...? Either way nice fix...

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍It was the end of the resistor that was soldered to the board had broken away from the actual resistor. When I heated the it with the iron the opposite side just came away and I showed the resistor with the silver bit missing from the back of it.

[@chrisprobert6]

25:33 no ,nope, couldn't see a fing. Silva? Scary stuff, crt like😅

[@FixDaily]

This video made me wondering. Were the springs were from? 😅

[@gonzaloj.dominguez634]

Also here, must admit I was expecting closure for those😂

[@BuyitFixit]

I've still got 2 spare springs.. I still didn't figure out where they were from, or find any place that they could fit.

[@adrenna123]

@@BuyitFixit Any chance there were part of the isolators/brass contacts?

[@BuyitFixit]

@@adrenna123 I'm not too sure, the brass bits were just supports and the isolators weren't spring loaded as they just fell out.

[@MrFujack103]

The first thing that come to my mind was Diana 😎

[@Timothycan]

"Parts no longer available", a 330 Ohm resistor! Someone should tell them you can still get 330 Ohm resistors.

[@Ragnar8504]

I don't think any manufacturer these days is likely to repair boards on a component level, so they were quite likely referring to entire boards.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes I suspect the same too 👍

[@ronaldpickett5133]

When you return items to this company it appears that they only replace the entire unit simply because it is cheaper for them to do than to hire a tech to repair returns. Then lie saying that the "Part" is no longer in stock? WOW!

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, seems the case 👍

[@dwsimon1]

How do you charge for a repair like that?? £100 or just a thank them for letting you try and the sence of satisfaction from actual getting it going??

[@BuyitFixit]

I volunteer at our local repair cafe where we help people in the community repair their items free of charge (parts excluded) but they can make a donation if they wish, and do this pretty much as a hobby not as a business.

[@dwsimon1]

Yeah I'm a hgv technician, so often challenged to repair things well outside of the scope of my work, I enjoy fixing most things tbh. The satisfaction is often payment enough

[@Dexter101x]

Probably poor quality resistor

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, or just a faulty one.

[@3dsmaxrocks699]

Looks a space laser weapon or something.

[@BuyitFixit]

Pretty much what I said 00:32 😂😂😂😂

[@TheOwlman]

Not so much can't fix as don't want to! Official _"repair"_ these days is just bung a replacement board in and charge an arm and a leg, just like with cars where an entire throttle assembly is required for a failed opto receiver at a cost of around £300 plus labour.

[@BuyitFixit]

Totally agree 👍

[@IvyMike.]

The parts are not available? A 331 ohm resistor? But can we interest you in this new more overpriced light than the last one. Typical marketing BS.

[@dalekcat]

Considering how bs it was to take apart, I'm sure the tech didn't even touch it and just said nope that's unfixable. Or could just be the companys way considering it's a niche market. Unfixable, just buy a new one to make us money.

[@thiesenf]

Capitalism in all its glory... (here... have a metric buttload of sarcasm)

[@pederb82]

The issue is that these days you are a technician if you swap out boards that has a failure on it. I bet he/she/it could not order the board/module. They don’t hardly learn what a soldering iron is anymore.

[@BuyitFixit]

Very true 👍

[@JonnyFix]

Always a good feeling when you beat the official repair crew.

[@BuyitFixit]

Totally 😂😂👍

[@larrybud]

Official repair crews are generally assembly lines. If it takes them more than "n" minutes of time, it's not viable to run as a business, because the customer isn't going to pay for the extra time to fix something.

[@patrickpafarnis5798]

But have to learn something: Long time ago I was working at a small company who was making proffesional studio flash equipment in the Netherlands. The first thing we did when we have to repair this kind of flash units was to discharged the capacitor. You don't want to come into contact with a voltage of 500V and currents of 1000A!

[@mikeselectricstuff]

22:32 you can see the piece of plating that cracked off the left end of the resistor

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes 👍Cheers Mike.

[@rickdiego5]

You do some interesting repairs and your thought process analyzing the situations is impressive. After watching a few of the old little video game repairs I was getting tired of those. Repairing a unit like this one is really worth watching. I fixed my garage door opener by replacing the three-cent capacitor. Resisters don't usually go bad but clearly you use logic to find the bad resistor which look like the end disconnected from the resistor which was clear to me as soon as you mailed it the solder on one end of it the whole resistor moved which meant the solder joint or the resistor failed on the other end. Your channel is one of my favorites and I look forward to your repairs of important and complex and relevant equipment.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Yes I try to do a variety of different things. It also depends what comes my way!

[@crazycarl9484]

No wonder they wouldnt touch it must very akwardly put together. Fair play Mick very patient methodical fix. Thanks for sharing.

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers mate 👍

[@zubeystinzen540]

And still the undefeated champion, Mr fixit 😂👌💪

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂Thanks 👍

[@hambojock]

If you find that your hands react to the gloves you maybe allergic to latex, which is quite common. Try some vinyl or non latex gloves

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you for the suggestion 👍, it's not allergic is more of the feeling of something else than my skin, they also seem to make my hands sweat after a while too. I have been trying to wear gloves a bit more often especially when working on our cars or vehicles, as my hands can get in some right states with oil etc.

[@robdaniels78]

Was anyone else shouting to take that ceramic bit out the light hahaha ?

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Lovely! Customer: Please fix my device. Manufacturer: We can't get the part! Buy a new unit! The part: 330 Ω surface mount resistor. Manufacturer:

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@leaflee2066]

You just know the shop that tried to repair this checked the bulb, the fuse then thought, we aren't going to make any money on this, tell them the parts aren't available and get rid of them.

[@BuyitFixit]

Either that or they are just board swappers and the board was "unavailable" due to Bowens no longer being in business.

[@DerekEmerson]

I have 4 of these from when I tried my hand at Photography, they are great units and expensive.

[@BuyitFixit]

Well at least you now know what's inside of them 🙂

[@whodatdere1]

I have several coloured markers that I use to mark the ocnnectors when I am pulling stuff apart. It helps from looking at pictures

[@brucecorbettn9bh398]

That’s a good idea.

[@XKSteve]

Yes me too. Got caught once, then I found multi colour packs of markers. Great advice.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@paulmeynell8866]

Very cool although the time required to fix this probably equates to the cost of a new one. Excellent find , great to watch you work.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@alansort]

Is the description of the triac "zero crossing dimmer" action correct? I thought that once a triac is triggered on, it stays on until the current through it drops below a given threshold. That is you can't trigger them off as the diagram shows. Zero crossing switching of a triac implies that you can only have off (no trigger), 50% (triggered only for one half of the cycle, some equipment might not like this) and 100% (triggered for both halves of the cycle). The only way to have variable or other levels is by triggering the triac on some period of time after the zero crossing point. This makes nonsense of the expression "zero crossing dimmer".

[@glencook9379]

Yes, you are correct Alan. A triac will only turn off when the supply gets to 0v. The brightness is controlled by the microcontroller timing the previous zero crossing and turning the triac on between 0.xx ms (full brightness) and up to 9.xxms (lowest brightness) after the zero crossing is detected. The xx denoting a period of time after the zero crossing to be outside the dead zone of the triac.

[@miked4943]

Alan, you can skip cycles , e.g. trigger every third at zero crossing would give you 30%. Since the load is resistive and has thermal inertia it still would not be flickering.

[@kendom33]

Great repair Mick. What a carry on to get to that resistor. Very well done

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Much appreciated 🙂

[@cajuncoinhunter]

Wow a 2 cent part that is common as dirt ...... I hope they didn't charge Steve a fee for the " NON repairable " device ....... Great job..... Take care Mon Ami...

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Cajun, I think the "repairer" just swaps boards, and a board "wasn't available"

[@manusholm1544]

nicely done. often diagnostic is the bigger trick in repairs. much more important to get good diagnostic than most other aspects. how much trouble one little component can be.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍Yes one little component is usually the problem in most devices!

[@wagstaffphilip]

Just opening this was a major test, fixing this £149 light was a triumph. I did not think it would be possible. Impressive and a joy to witness.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍🙂

[@davidp7163]

Anyone else see R83 let loose when he only touched one side with the iron?

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, that seemed to be the cause of the problem.

[@Gazzyb2071]

It's unbelievable how you managed to fix it, I'm new to electronics, and your videos are amazingly informative, even though I don't understand half of what you are saying or doing. 👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers mate 👍

[@hansregli8678]

I see many repair videos where the first shop was too lazy to even start with a diagnose...😢 My first guess was the Triac, because of the thumb rule: "It was the Butler", ehh no, what I wanted to say, "It was the part where the most current goes through"

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes I thought it might have been the triac too, but I guess we were both wrong 😂😂👍

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Being interested in Photography (besides all my other hobbies) this was great. SUCH a shame it was not actually a Grenade launcher, would have continued your Evil Genius from the last couple of videos 🙂KEWL bit of kit though, bet the owner is WELL pleased, if not I will pop up and get it from you, also bring a trailer load of stuff for you to fix 🙂 BLAST, just read the post from the owner 🙂

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Chris 👍Yes a trailer load of stuff sounds great 😂😂😂😂

[@arcadeuk]

I assume the "official repairer" just swaps boards, doesn't actually do any diagnosis/repair 🙄

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, I suspect so..

[@kdog3908]

Since i've been toying with the idea of tinkering/fixing electronics, I've started to notice just how much electrical/electronic gear ends up in the bin or a skip. It's pretty shocking really. I've just lifted a nail gun out of a skip where there's some work going on retiling a roof. Not stripped it down yet but I'm quite looking forward to getting into it. It's rated at 1500 Watts so I reckon i'll have to be careful with it.

[@BuyitFixit]

I used to go to our local recycling centre (rubbish tip) to get rid of garden waste now and again, and the amount of electrical / electronic stuff I used to see being dumped was shocking.

[@fu1r4]

'Official repairer couldn't fix it' says nothing. They spend 5-10 minutes and if they can't fix it they give up. I assume they try to change the bulb and if that doesn't fix it, it can't be fixed.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, agree 👍

[@simontay4851]

Why did that resistor fail. Didn't look burnt or over heated. How hot does the triac get? Maybe heat from the triac caused thermal expansion/contraction of the board and cracked that resistor? I wonder how long the new resistor that you fitted will last. I would have soldered on a 1/4 W 330K through hole resistor. I hate surface mount resistors, they're so fragile.

[@BuyitFixit]

I guess it might not have been soldered properly? I can't see a lot of heat around that area, and it was only used to current limit the power from the microcontroller to a LED in the opto coupler so not a lot of current either.

[@rickoneill4343]

Just commented on another video of yours where the klein small reversable retchet with 1/4 bit drive would be perfect for this.

[@BuyitFixit]

I've ordered one from Amazon 👍

[@johnmyers5891]

I worked for that manufacturer back in 1990ish, was a great company back then The equipments is not rocket science

[@BuyitFixit]

Although it does look slightly like a rocket launcher.. 😂😂👍

[@keithmarlow143]

So much for the ability of the 'official repairer'. In my experience if they can't fix it by doing a board swap, they lack the ability to do component level fixes.

[@BuyitFixit]

Agree 👍

[@keithnsearle7393]

A little component, that is mass produced by the millions, and the manufacturer could not repair/fix/replace the component? To the manufactures out there, do better.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂Yes. I think the "repair shop" just changes boards not actually diagnoses the problem on the board and fixes it.

[@leonvanderlinde5580]

Nice logical faultfinding. I just kept screaming at you to remove the barcket 😄

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂👍

[@ByeTech]

"Buy a new one, the part's not available... because I don't know how to fix my own creation!"

[@BuyitFixit]

Pretty much, although they were just the official repairer and not the manufacturer who since went out of business.

[@SomeMorganSomewhere]

Yeah, flash tubes and skin oils DO NOT mix... Good call on the gloves.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@phildegruy9295]

Likely manufacture knew from what the light didn't do the board was bad and not worth it to them to fix. Did you ever figure out where the springs actually went?

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes agree. No, never worked out where they went although I might have another look before I send it back.

[@stefanopassiglia]

Great repair. The IR cell is for the master/slave mode, when you have multiple units they can fire when a master light fires, and this avoids the need of a radio control for each unit. Obviously the units must see each other for this to work.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks for that, I did wonder. Thanks for clearing that up 👍

[@sean9595]

Sound job Mick 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers 👍

[@KJW648]

Would not trust that company, after they said they could not repair due to parts. Sound like Apple if you ask me.😂

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂

[@MrBaldypete1]

"I got balls of steeeel"... Loved that game!

[@darrenhelsby7480]

And hail to the king baby

[@BuyitFixit]

"Come get some" 😂😂😂

[@Pgr-pt5ep]

"It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And I'm all outta gum"

[@JAYG6390]

Really enjoying the varied and unusual items you're repairing recently. Another great repair!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍

[@johnmolnar2957]

Parts no longer available was a cop out. probably never opened it up .

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, agree 👍

[@dalee.mccombs8571]

You are the master! I enjoy your repair videos! Keep em coming!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks, will do!

[@snipersquad100]

I agree with the first person who tried to fix it, those 330 ohm resisters are as rare as rocking horse shit.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, like hens teeth 😂😂😂👍

[@foosty6]

I cant believe "fixation" couldnt get a stock of a 331 smd resistor, whats the world coming to, if i was being clinical id think they wanted to change the whole board rather than a diagnostic repair

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, totally agree 👍

[@foosty6]

@@BuyitFixit I'd guess they can charge the customer more by changing a whole board rather than a true repair, and the skilled people able to diagnose correctly, it's a bit sickening the industry of repair has died so much

[@simontay4851]

Part no longer available, my @$$. Resistors are very available.

[@BuyitFixit]

I think they just replace the whole board as it's a board fault, and the boards are no longer available.

[@andymouse]

Good stuff, saw the resistor come away from its end cap ! that looks like an expensive bit of kit too.....cheers.

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers Andymouse 👍

[@harezy]

Not got a clue what you were doing same as Big C but was fasinating and subbed.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Welcome aboard 🙂

[@Alchemetica]

"The part is no longer available from Bowens". Lazy B's - I'd be informing Bowens about the response from their official repair centre and the manager of Fixation.

[@BuyitFixit]

Unfortunately I think Bowens went out of business a few years back.

[@Alchemetica]

@@BuyitFixit Doesn't bode well then for my 4 Bowens monoblocs, 250 x 1, 500 x 2 , 1000 x 1. I will have to check if the distributor here in Australia is still the repairer. Thanks for the feedback.

[@patrickpafarnis5798]

Long time ago I was working at a small company who was making proffesional studio flash equipment in the Netherlands. The first thing we did when we have to repair this kind of flash units was to discharged the capacitor. You don't want to come into contact with a voltage of 500V and currents of 1000A!

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes agree, this one had a bleeder resistor across it so it discharges when not powered 👍

[@patrickpafarnis5798]

@@BuyitFixit Nice to hear you was aware of this.

[@ralphj4012]

Well done, you flash git, ho, ho. Nothing over-complex here, the neutral connected to the opto cathode seemed bizarre. You must have old stock, clearly 330R resistors are no longer available. Try thin cotton gloves.

[@alansort]

Yes neutral to the LED side of the opto isolator some what defeats having the opto isolator in the first place. Mick does say, after refering to the 330R fed from the micro-processor, "... the other terminal which is connected to neutral or ground" so I suspect a senior moment not picked up in editing.

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers Ralph 👍

[@nexpro6985]

Seems unlikely that Bowens would turn that repair away. They have always offered pretty good service to professional photographers. As a side note a very long time ago I was photographing some of the Arsenal squad at their old training ground at London Colney. I had a couple of large flash units connected to a generator. It started to rain lightly and suddenly there was a sound like a gunshot. The zener diode in one of the flash units had exploded. When I turned back to apologise to the players they were all hiding in the bushes. Their other training had kicked in. Oops.

[@XKSteve]

Sadly Bowens went bust. They were fantastic for repairs but it’s now outsourced to a company that just do board swapping not proper electronic repair work.

[@xzytqweo3538]

Glad you were able to fix it with a part that was ready available....😉

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂Yes, I just looked on one of my "junk boards" and there it was. I hear they are very rare these days 😂😂😂

[@Elberto71]

Makes you wonder if they even bothered opening it up

[@BuyitFixit]

Agree 👍

[@Omegajet223]

Nice work 👌

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@rickdiego5]

I'll bet that unit cost thousands of dollars and you made it usable with a $0.05 part. That is what got me interested in microelectronics. I have a gas range in my home and the oven would sometimes turn on but you had to keep pushing the on button over and over again and maybe after 10 times it would take and then the oven would come on. I took out the circuit board and this oven is from 1986, a GE top model. I replaced a small electrolytic capacitor that cost maybe $0.10. and now instead of spending $1,500 on a new stove mine works perfectly now. After watching this video I understand more about opto couplers.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍as I was reading your comment I was thinking capacitor? and then read that's what it was 😂😂Well done on fixing your stove 👍

[@rickoneill4343]

The fact that you were never an electrical engineer and learned all this on your own is staggering. Easily one of the most thorough and articulate technicians I have come accross.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks, although I did get the Triac operation slightly wrong in my description (I haven't used them much). I now know that they switch off at the zero cross point automatically, so you don't actually turn them off only on.

[@PhilipBryden]

Great job. Nice methodical fault finding.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@nigelholland24]

Just watched this and then one came up on marketplace for £120 mint condition

[@BuyitFixit]

I guess they are "listening".

[@nigelholland24]

Yes very true.

[@pjhb_microsoldering_portugal]

Great video. We need to save our 330 ohm resistors and sell them at the price of gold...seems they are not available any more...😂😂😂

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@riskifixes]

Excellent job! Once again.👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers mate 👍

[@thinking-monkey]

Great job with the diagnosis and repair, sir! 👍Very happy customer, I'll bet! Shame on that "repair center". Not for simply not having the experience to do a proper diagnosis and repair, we can't all be wizards after all, but for not even trying.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@sr3d-microphones]

RPG??? BFG!! Big F-in Gun!!! haha

[@BuyitFixit]

Indeed 😂😂😂Although that was doom and it looks different to this one 😉

[@danielsaturnino5715]

Thumbs for the Duke Nukem reference!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Yes I remember lugging my PC and CRT monitor around to a friends house with a few other mates and us linking up with coax network cards to play multiplayer 😂😂😂

[@TheElectr0nicus]

Wow! Had very rarely seen a board so badly soldered. Half of the solderjoints are dry. A wonder how it is able to work anyhow. Look at the middle pin of the trough hole device next to the Optocoupler. That is the next failure. And The SMD transistor to the right with the name Q3 is also only held on the board with air and love it seems.

[@TC_here]

Great fix. Capacitors the size of bean cans :)

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, I wouldn't fancy getting a shock from them!

[@slam4815]

You are soooo bright!

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂Cheers

[@richardtaylor7199]

Its a blinder.

[@BuyitFixit]

Only when looking directly at it without using safety squints 😂😂😂

[@DavoShed]

What a great save. Sometimes it’s is the simplest of things among a sea of complexity.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍yes it seems 330 ohm resistors are no longer available 😂😂😂

[@JB-ux5yb]

Top fault finding and fix

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@elliaction]

Another great fix. looking forward to next Saturday :) best regards from east Iceland

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍

[@petechongy]

That board has a ton of dry joints and will not last much longer before it's broke again