by McDave » Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:31 pm
Hey Tommy,
I gotta say, you have really had quite an education in all things electrical over the past year. I know it can be frustrating sometimes when you are learning from real life, but I promise if you had just read a book or gone to classes you wouldn't have the knowledge you have gained so quickly. Real life situations make you develop skills and learn to think like a technician or troubleshooter. Theory is important, but the fundamentals will never fail you. I think you really have quite a knack for it. You may not know all the lingo and specs. but you know how to hunt down the problem, and you're not scared to try. I would love to see you pick up some things to help clarify everything. I can see you're just about to make the right connections, and the light will come on (pun intended) and all will make sense and become so much easier, and maybe even fun? When it happens, you will be in a elite group. I'd bet less than 1 in 10 can really understand electricity. Don can be the best resource, as he can speak your language and not confuse you. And he wants to help you understand, not just repair and move on.
Some suggestions from an old timer to get you started? Get yourself a good VOM. (volts, ohms meter) and start using it all the time just to help visualize what is happening. I prefer the old time analog meters, the ones with a needle not digital. But either will help you learn and of course troubleshoot. You need to know what the readings mean and where to take them, so just keep it handy and use it first, instead of taking a guess.
Learning to make good, reliable connections is a skill of its own. But just think about each connection like you were building an airplane, and lives depended on it being right. If it's not right, it must be that other thing. There is no middle ground. Things like butt connectors and scotch locks are a joke and are almost guaranteed to fail, at a really bad time. Get a soldering iron and a soldering gun and learn how to use them to make solid, reliable connections.
Learning to read schematics will be like learning to read. Your life will be much easier and the answers to the problem can be found, without tearing everything apart. They will help you solve for the failure and ignore all else not related.
Again, Don can really help with all this and I'd be happy to give you any help you need. You are very close to the moment of clarity.. And adding another skill to your toolbox, and another facet to the diamond that is Tommy.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Erin Go Bragh!
McDave