A Broken SMD Power Switch On A Wireless Microphone Repaired
A sound technician brought me this microphone for repair. He tried to fix it himself but he actually made it worse. It has a broken switch and he wanted it back in operation as soon as possible.
It is a very expensive microphone and it is heavily used in productions and it is urgently needed.
To be honest I never opened such a microphone but promised the customer who is a good friend of mine to do my best in getting it fixed as soon as I can.
As seen in the phone the power button is gone and I am not sure if I have similar button to replace it with. The idea was to take the switch on the left (mute) and solder it on the other side and hope for best.
I started the dismantling process to get to the faulty area and get it fixed but it was not easy to do so.
There are two board layers connected with flex cables and that did not make it any easier on me but I kept going.
Finally after a long process of taking this device apart I was able to get to the faulty part but sad to say that the plan I had in mind to replace the left switch in the place of the right one failed simply it did not have the right figuration and too big to fit on board.
I had this kind of switch in my shop and as seen it fits perfectly in the area but push button is on top not to the side and that is going to be hard powering the device on because it does not have a knob on the outside to slide on/off.
I talked to the customer about it and suggested to have a pocking device in his pocket the whole time to power the device on. He smiled and said I always carry a tooth pick with me and that was the perfect answer to his issue (LOL).
As seen in the photo, I soldered the power switch on, put everything back together and gave it a try using a tooth pick, take a look.
It powered on just fine. I called the customer for pick up and when he saw the outcome he smiled and said thinking outside the box is what we need when it comes to repair and technology.
Mission Accomplished.
This article was prepared for you by Waleed Rishmawi, one of our ‘Master Authors’ and currently working in the Bethlehem area of Palestine repairing electrical and electronic equipment.
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Note: You can check his previous article on A Welding Machine With Damaged Output Terminals Replaced
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Tayo
August 3, 2024 at 10:28 pm
Those Right angle surface mount tact switches arent common (i just looked) and not sold in an assorted pack.... otherwise i would order a kit to keep on hand just in case of a situation like this. You did your best tho. Maybe order the right switch and fix it properly at another time?
Waleed Rishmawi
August 4, 2024 at 2:35 pm
I looked everywhere for it and can not be found. The only way was to send it to the factory to install it back on but that would take time and I am sure expensive so thinking out side the box was my intention. Have a blessed day
Parasuraman S
August 3, 2024 at 10:56 pm
Great professional fix! Many thanks for sharing! Liked the toothpick switch too!
Waleed Rishmawi
August 4, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Parasuraman: thanks man. Have a blessed day
Yogesh Panchal
August 3, 2024 at 11:17 pm
Good Fix!Waleed
Panel Mount mini on/off switch would have been perfect solution for this mic which can be adjusted in the hole.
Waleed Rishmawi
August 4, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Yogesh: thanks man. The space is very tiny to fit it on board. Have a blessed day
Albert van Bemmelen
August 3, 2024 at 11:44 pm
There maybe also was another way to do this without always needing a toothpick?
Maybe it also was possible to solder a glass reedcontact on the position of the broken off switch. And just by placing a small magnet on top of the reedcontact on the outside of the housing the wireless microphone switches on.
Waleed Rishmawi
August 4, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Albert: read contact would be too big to fit in beside a magnet will not hold on the way it should be. Thanks though for your suggestion. Have a blessed day
Mark J
August 4, 2024 at 2:29 am
Waleed Rishmawi Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Well done.
Waleed Rishmawi
August 4, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Mark: yes exactly. That was my intentions here. Have a blessed day
Imoudu.O
August 5, 2024 at 2:35 am
We are there to re-brand devices to keep on functioning, thanks for sharing.
Waleed Rishmawi
August 5, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Imoudu: yes we are. gave a blessed day
Mendis
August 22, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Great job.thanks for sharing