No.103 - Fluke 43B Power Quality Analyzer Repair

[@mr1enrollment]

actually I am amazed that you fix many of the instruments that you find. given the level of integration in modern stuff - any win is a big win.

[@IanScottJohnston]

The YT video foreshortens the work that goes on in the background. Some of the repairs take days/weeks and a good bit of thinking and pouring over the schematics and hardware. But usually, there's a point where I go "ahhhhh, thats gotta be it"......then I hit record again.....😀

[@davidv1289]

Let's hope you can fix it by re-flowing the flash ROM. The 43 is an excellent tool, I used one routinely to check 75 KW 480 volt 3 phase UPS/PCS systems for harmonic distortion. Regards, David

[@elylopes7343]

I have one Fluke 434 Power Quality Analyzer showing the same issue that you described in this video. I sent it for repairing to the Fluke representative here in Sao Paulo, Brazil a few months ago, but they returned it to me saying they could not fix it up because it was obsolete and Fluke did not hold parts for it any more.

[@feedback-loop]

There is a chance that the problem might be with the keypad. I have seen Fluke 19x scopemeters, which are very similar, not powering up because of some shorts in that flexible keypad membrane. Try disconnecting the keypad altogether and powering up the unit by shorting the power button line (marked ON KEY) to the ground.

[@IanScottJohnston]

I checked that, C400 on the Pcb just needs shorted out as it is across ON KEY and 0vdc.

[@feedback-loop]

@@IanScottJohnston Did you disconnect the keypad?

[@IanScottJohnston]

Yes.

[@IanScottJohnston]

STOP PRESS.....I have just reflowed the Flash......lets say there should be another video very soon....:)

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@IanScottJohnston How the hell did you find something to flash into it?

[@BradleyMabe]

Very cool step-by-step logic troubleshooting - I enjoyed the way you took us through it - It would be interesting to see if this is a common failure mode for this Fluke product ... Thanks!

[@andymouse]

Great trouble shooting and watch this space !....cheers.

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

I bough a fluke power analyser data logger last month. Downloads into a laptop. Very useful for tracking down issue with the customers power supply.

[@MR_Garage]

I read below that you re-flowed the flash and all is working again? Just the screen correct having lines (common issue)? Replacement screens on ebay I have found.

[@SidneyCritic]

I've seen quite a few repairs were those flat ICs crack solder joints.

[@ickipoo]

I would think that, for the ASIC to be outputing the watchdog signal, a fair bit of code has to be loaded and running?

[@t1d100]

Nice review of the fault.

[@xDevscom_EE]

Back when manufacturers were nice and provided service information and schematics for products they made for people....

[@BjornV78]

You can try to heat up the flashrom and Asic chips by hot air , and see if that gives a difference.

[@amirb715]

Did you have another go at this Fluke 43B? If mask software is running it should be possible to flash the FW through the optical-serial port.

[@IanScottJohnston]

Not yet, I have it on the back burner to get back to. Thanks for the info!

[@amirb715]

@@IanScottJohnston read sec 7.4.1,7.4.2 of service manual. Although there is a dead end when it says look at sec 7.6 and that section does not exist in the published manual 😞

[@elylopes7343]

Have you fixied the issue witl the flash memory? Did you try resoldering it to the PCB?

[@elsaarmstrong-zp6ng]

I thought all modern power adaptors had the centre contact positive ?

[@ВиталийУнщиков]

There are schematics fluke 434 ?

[@proluxelectronics7419]

So much gear has Flash based firmware, It's a good way for manufactures to put a time limit on the life of a unit, the flash just hangs on a bad block. I have a few nand failure project/repairs with very little information on nand rebuilding, unless you know Linux.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

We tried to claim that the code in an ASIC flash was firmware, but the power's that be were trying to insist that it was software and should come under all the rules and standards for software production. it did go in our favor for that project but they got their way in the end.

[@timturner7609]

11:56 Nobody puts relay in the corner!

[@piconano]

Can you not de-solder it and send it to Fluke and get a new replacement? It's very rare for ICs to go bad all of a sudden after operating for months. Specially on a battery operated instruments that eliminate the possibility of AC surges.

[@IanScottJohnston]

It's working now. I reflowed the flash and it's now powering up. The LCD on the other hand has issues, so will be repairing that.

[@piconano]

@@IanScottJohnston Excellent. Hope to see it working soon.

[@ВиталийУнщиков]

There is a schematic fluke 434?, won't turn on.

[@andersvandegevel8355]

That would be a flow-chart rather than a truth table, but in any case, hats off, if you can't fix it, I doubt anyone can

[@IanScottJohnston]

Yep....dunno why I said truth table....LOL!

[@andersvandegevel8355]

@@IanScottJohnston a day without at least one brain-fart is misspent!

[@TKomoski]

Is it really worth chasing a fix ?

[@IanScottJohnston]

For YT, the fun & satisfaction of it and not to mention my OCD of it sitting on a shelf somewhere un-fixed would bother me LOL!

[@TKomoski]

@@IanScottJohnston Yes I have seen you replace almost every componet on some of your repairs. I guess if you realy need that functioning then a repair is in order. Don't get me wrong Ian I admire your dedication to effect a repair. Cheers

[@fredflintstone1]

you can't win them all but maybe just maybe there will be a part 2🙂

[@IanScottJohnston]

Hopefully!

[@radio-ged4626]

Well, you're animated figure isn't waving a white flag at the end of the video so maybe there's hope 🙂