Author Topic: Nearby lightning strike, 2 'dead' RRC boxes!  (Read 7024 times)

K7ZS

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Nearby lightning strike, 2 'dead' RRC boxes!
« on: 2021-03-29, 23:24:06 »
A friend had a nearby lightning strike, less than 30 meters from his antenna.  This damaged a number of electronic items, including his computer, SteppIR controller and both a RADIO and CONTROL side RRC-1258MkIIs ...

Having lots of test equipment and rework gear, I offered to take a look to see if they could be rescued.  They exhibit NO signs of life - nothing on the AUX/MIC or USB port ... they do not register with Window 10 when plugged into the USB port.

No visible signs of damage (the SteppIR controller had a chip blown in half though!)

Are there schematics for these boards?  Any advice?  Are there possibly chip fuses like so many modern electronics have (including most transceivers ...)

Any advice appreciated

73 Kevin K7ZS

EA5WA

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Re: Nearby lightning strike, 2 'dead' RRC boxes!
« Reply #1 on: 2021-05-10, 23:04:15 »
Same problem here.  No green power LED but only a little flash on AUX/MIC.

No visible signs of burned parts or something.

Help is appreciated

73 de EA5WA Juan Carlos
73's from EA5WA Juan Carlos

EA5WA

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Re: Nearby lightning strike, 2 'dead' RRC boxes!
« Reply #2 on: 2021-05-29, 17:16:02 »
After several days trying to repair the RRC, I gave up..... What I see is a short circuit at the 3,3v regulator voltage output. Trying to find who cause this short, I removed a lot of capacitor, with no success. I tried with the power supply pin of the bigger IC also with no success. Replacing the voltage regulator still same problem, voltage at the output is about 2 volts and gets hot quite fast.

73 de EA5WA Juan Carlos
73's from EA5WA Juan Carlos