First, you'll need to be able to take apart the electronics, which can be more of a challenge than you think. Many newer electronics are not designed to be taken apart easily. If you're lucky, your item has screws holding it together. If not, you have plastic tabs holding it together. The tabs are a pain to get apart, you need to slowly pry them apart using a small screwdriver. And in doing so you're pretty much guaranteed to scar the plastic in at least one place.
Once you have the item opened up, you need to be comfortable with electricity. Most people have gotten a shock from a switch or light in their life. It's not fun, but it's not dangerous - mainly because it's alternating current. However most electronics use direct current which is more dangerous. Also, some electronics have high voltage and/or high current inside of them which is dangerous as well. Obviously, if you're not comfortable then don't proceed. Trying to fix a $500 TV is not worth serious injury.
When working on electronics, sometimes you need to work on them while they are plugged in and turned on. Obviously this means live electricity. But DO NOT ASSUME an unplugged piece of electronics is safe to work on. I know of two potential dangers. First is the aforementioned capacitors which can hold a charge. It's not uncommon to find capacitors rated to 150V inside electronics like a TV or stereo, which means that capacitor could potentially hold 150V of electricity inside it, even when the device is off and unplugged. However, if you use a screwdriver to short out the two leads this discharges the capacitor and makes it safe. The other danger I'm aware of is what's called a flyback transformer which is found on tube TVs and computer monitors. This is in the form of a suction cup attached to the back of the tube. I guess the flyback transformer can hold thousands of volts. Again, it must be carefully removed and shorted out if you plan on working on an old tube TV or monitor.
Me, I've very new and inexperienced when it comes to electronics repair, but I am comfortable working around electronics and electricity. But since I lack experience I've given myself 3 guidelines.
- I will not work on old TVs and computer monitors because of the flyback transformer.
- I will not work on microwave ovens, they contain both high voltage and high current which is an extreme danger and could very easily kill you.
- Whenever I work on electronics, I will short out any capacitors to remove any lingering charge.
The last tip is buy and learn how to use a multimeter. A multimeter is an essential tool in electronics repair. You can buy them for as little as $10, a decent meter in the $50 range, and a good meter runs $100 or more.
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