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How do you find out which component on a circuit board is malfunctioning?

My fridge stopped to work. I would like to repair a circuit board that belongs to my fridge...I'm sure thats the broken piece. I'm an amateur and I mess with circuit boards and components (capacitators, diods...). How do you test a circuit board and find out which component is defective? Is there a website that teaches that?

Public Comments

1. nope, most professionals just replace the boards
2. Go to your nearest technical institution & enrol in an electronics course. After a year or so, you will have the required knowledge for solving the problem.
3. Look for a damaged solder trace or dry joint if it looks suspect re-solder it
4. Using proper trouble shooting techniques. You will need a voltmeter and a repair manual for that particular circuit board. Most technicians now days just replace the boards.
5. Look for obvious signs on the board of either circuits or diodes/resistors being burnt or capacitors that are swelled. Check some appliance repair or electronics repair sites with model and serial number for diagnostic info and tips. You'd have to consult a circuit diagram and understand the circuitry involved to test it or have a repair manual.
6. What this whole thing amounts to basically, is that by the time you remove the circuit board, get the required tools and knowledge to trace the problem to the damaged part, all the food in your fridge is going to be spoiled or, at best, thawed. It's a matter of economics. If you can better afford to replace the food than the board, go for it, otherwise, call a tech and have them fix it.
7. If you have to ask this type of question you no hope in hell of repairing a P.C.B.