Repairing Lightning damage

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Since the AC adapter is still good, I think you'll find the damage is likely
to be in the Ethernet portions of the router. Since most designs have the
switch built into the main CPU, any damage to it is usually terminal.

I had a Microsoft access point that died in much the same way. There was a
lightning storm going on outside and suddenly a bright spark flew from the
router's insides. For the brightness of the flash, comparatively little
damage was done to the PCB and no components were obviously blown out. It
would still power up (warmth in the chips on the board, anyway) but no LEDs
came on nor did the unit actually work.

The surge must have gone on a bit further, because it also damaged the NIC
in an IBM PS/2 Model 95. The damage there was very strange. The computer
powered itself off at the exact moment of the strike. It turned right back
on and the NIC linked up but could not exchange any data.

I took the opportunity to upgrade to a new router, and chose one capable of
running the alternative DD-WRT firmware after a few disappointments with
many different name brands.

William

 

[TMI]

Because of its corrosive nature, ZnCl flux is not suitable for
situations where any residue cannot be cleaned away, such as
electronic work. Lead free solder is in wide use so it's likely to be
the case. No matter what, unless you have skills and temperature
controlled irons, lead free solder is a bitch. I would rework it with
SN63 for the repair. I don't think that is legal if you are a pro or a
manufacturer with cradle to grave liability.

Most ISPs offer free or low cost wireless routers. Check what yours is
offering. I am using a $1,500.00 Intel Switch as a shelf today a the D-
link that replaced it is 10 times as fast, has more ports and cost
about $50.00.

Check the caps and see what you find. Order new routers as it does not
pay to hamstring your entire network and your connectivity over this
amount of money.

Tom

 

[HapticZ]

yes, just as i would. i always make attempt to fix first. it is fun learning
so much stuff about so much stuff!

get u self a printed version of Digikey corporation electronic parts
catalog. have fun finding all the incredible stuuf that is used in all the
stuff today.

since my college time in 1970, i just cant keep up with the field!

worse yet, my eyes are starting to crap out! so make the best use of your
time amigo!

 

[Michael Kennedy]

I shall endevour to be more careful with the terms in the future. Thanks
for not getting too confused. ;-)

Puckdropper

Or if refering to switches, Open and Closed. Just think of the old blade
switches if it is closed it would be pushed down making the circuit connect.
If it were open it would have an air gap between the two contacts.

 

[Dave]

I have a Zonet ZSR1104WE Wireless Broadband Router. It's about 3 years
old, and until last night worked just fine. After a storm last night,
the router quit working. It shows no signs of life.

I've tested the AC adapter with a meter, and it's showing 16V (no load.)
So, I opened the case up and started tracing the circuit. One diode (D1,
IN5.... (can't see the numbers)) near the power input has shorted (tests
open both ways), but my question is where to go next? I've looked
unsuccessfully for a fuse of some sort, the next components in the
circuit are a B1412 transistor (Q5) and a choke (L1.)

From the B1412, the circuit continues to RT34063a (u9) and then to a
series of resistors (R9-R5).

Any help would be appreciated.

Do yourself a favor: throw it in the trash and get another router, they are
cheap and disposable like inkjet printers. Unless you have so much time on
your hands that you'll spend $500 in labor to fix a $40 router...

I opened up a fried D-Link router once. Once. It was one large proprietary
IC and a handful of sMC passive components. I replaced about 5 or 6
wireless cheap-o-deluxe routers, one about every 6 months, in my office
before I was beaten into submission and bought a $400 Cisco unit which has
since performed flawlessly for 2-1/2 years. Consumer-level networking
hardware is C-R-A-P from the design to the final assembly in some Cambodian
sweatshop. that's why Cisco, of whom LinkSys is a wholly-owned subsidiary,
won't brand LinkSys shite with the Cisco logo.

Dave

 

[Puckdropper]

*trim*


I opened up a fried D-Link router once. Once. It was one large
proprietary IC and a handful of sMC passive components. I replaced
about 5 or 6 wireless cheap-o-deluxe routers, one about every 6
months, in my office before I was beaten into submission and bought a
$400 Cisco unit which has since performed flawlessly for 2-1/2 years.
Consumer-level networking hardware is C-R-A-P from the design to the
final assembly in some Cambodian sweatshop. that's why Cisco, of whom
LinkSys is a wholly-owned subsidiary, won't brand LinkSys shite with
the Cisco logo.

Dave

I opened up the REALLY cheap one (airlink)... NOTHING's labeled at all in
it. I won't even attempt to touch that one.

I thought I might have some experience to gain with the Zonet one,
though.

Puckdropper