Hobbyist or repairer
Damaged PCB Trace Repair Tutorial
Damaged tracks on a circuit board can be bridged to restore continuity. The maker lists the tools needed and sets out one commonly used technique for the repair.
Topic
trace repair
15 videos.
A trace is the thin copper track that joins parts on a circuit board. Leaked battery fluid, a scratch or a lifted pad can break one, and the symptom is often a machine or cartridge that does nothing. A multimeter on its continuity setting helps show where the track stops.
The tutorial on repairing a damaged PCB trace opens with the tools, then one commonly used technique for restoring continuity. For games, an N64 cartridge that will not boot is mended in the Mario Party 2 video. Adrian's Flicker Fixer video is for advanced readers and follows damage from a leaking NiCd battery.
Fine wire work needs a hot iron. Mind the burns, ventilate the fumes and handle older leaded solder with care. The battery leaks that break tracks leave corrosive residue behind.
Hobbyist or repairer
Amiga 3000 "Flicker Fixer" repair strategies
The Amiga 3000's Flicker Fixer circuitry was damaged by a leaking NiCd battery, and this finale sets out how the maker plans to repair it, citing a linked article.
Hobbyist or repairer
Unique Slot 1 motherboard: Creative Blaster Board M003
This Slot 1 board from EMPAC and Creative, with SoundBlaster Live audio built in, will not POST. Severed traces are suspected after it came out of a scrapyard.
Hobbyist or repairer
Let's fix a dead VARTA ravaged 486 motherboard
A 486 motherboard damaged by a leaking NiCd Varta battery is the patient, and Adrian Black tries to bring it back. An earlier video where it first appeared is linked.
Hobbyist or repairer
3Dfx Voodoo legs disconnected - can we fix them?
Bits und Bolts finds that many secondhand Voodoo cards have chip legs lifted from their pads, then sets out to resolder every leg on a card fitted with faster memory.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 386SX-16 battery damage repairs feat. @MrLurchsThings
The Retro Channel works through battery damage on a Commodore 386SX-16 board, covering disassembly, cleaning and trace restoration, with the board described as needing minor repairs.
Hobbyist or repairer
Tandy 102 Turmoil Pt.1 - Battery corrosion repair, hidden damage, LCD corruption fix
Why did a Tandy 102 stop working after storage? Hidden battery corrosion damage is tracked down until it boots, and an LCD corruption problem comes next.
Hobbyist or repairer
Casio VX-4 Repair 2 - Extreme PCB repair of battery leak damage. Can we save this Pokécon?
A second Casio VX-4 Pokécon has a keyboard circuit board badly eaten by leaked battery residue, and the video works through a Pace Cir-Kit repair and a new battery contact spring.
Sells parts or repairs
This SNES Game is Worth Around $400 IF I Can Fix It!
Several approaches are tried on a SNES cartridge with a badly damaged circuit board, sold on after someone else tried and failed to repair it. A linked article covers cartridge cleaning.
Hobbyist or repairer
IPS Kit Ribbon Repair (Part 1 of 2)
A torn funnyplaying GBA IPS kit ribbon has two repair routes, scraping back the solder mask to reach the traces or soldering onto the components instead.
Hobbyist or repairer
Diagnosing and Repairing a Non-Booting Gameboy Color
Diagnosing a non-booting Game Boy Color comes down to one damaged via here, repaired with a length of wire while the maker talks through the steps.
Hobbyist or repairer
Fixing Someone Else's Gameboy Color Repair Attempt - Polarizing Filter, Capacitor and Trace Repair
A Game Boy Color that someone else failed to repair is redone, with corrosion cleared, a capacitor and battery terminal replaced, a broken trace mended and the polarising filter swapped.
Hobbyist or repairer
Repairing broken traces on a circuit board
Branchus Creations says broken traces are common on vintage computers where corrosion has set in, and gives tips for making strong, long-lasting repairs to them.
Hobbyist or repairer
Repairing damaged or lifted pads on a circuit board
Removing a component can tear or lift the pads beneath it. Branchus Creations goes through tips for rebuilding damaged or missing pads so the repair holds.
Hobbyist or repairer
N64 Game Won't Boot - Trace Repair - Mario Party 2 - Fixing eBay Junk
Why does a Mario Party 2 N64 cartridge give no sign of life, not even a blank screen? The maker finds a bad trace, repairs it and cleans up the board.
