Gideon Analytical Laboratories received two printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies, each of which had a single multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) suspected of failing. These MLCCs are Johanson Dielectrics PN 500T15W103MV4E. A PCB mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components using conductive tracks, pads and other features etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. Components (e.g. capacitors, resistors or active devices) are generally soldered on the PCB. Advanced PCBs may contain components embedded in the substrate.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received several Multi-Layered Ceramic Capacitors that had failed and two good MLCCs for comparison. The failure was occurring during the development cycle and it was thought this might be an issue with the manufacturing process. Multilayer ceramic capacitors are fixed value capacitors in which ceramic the material acting as the dielectric. It is made up of two or more alternating layers of ceramic and a metal layer acting as the electrodes.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received 8Murata Ps DC-DC converters (pn 8600118) with suspected MOSFET failures. A DC-DC converter is an electronic circuit or electromechanical device that converts a source of direct current (DC) from one voltage level to another. It is a type of electric power converter. Power levels range from very low (small batteries) to very high (high-voltage power transmission). The DC to DC converters MOSFET is a type of field-effect transistor (FET).
Gideon AnalyticalLaboratories received four National LM5111-1M dual 5A compound gate drivers. Two were failed and two were operational. A gate driver is power amplifier that accepts a low-power input from a controller IC and produces a high-current drive input for the gate of a high-power transistor such as an IGBT or power MOSFET. Gate drivers can be provided either on-chip or as a discrete module. In essence, a gate driver consists of a level shifter in combination with an amplifier.
GideonAnalytical Laboratories received several Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) that were experiencing delamination of the solder masks, specifically on the EMI filter card. A PCB mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components using conductive tracks, pads and other features etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. Components (e.g. capacitors, resistors or active devices) are generally soldered on the PCB. Advanced PCBs may contain components embedded in the substrate. Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received several failed 55 Amp (55BCF6- F8236B) and 75A (75BCF6-F8237B) TE Corcom EMI filters for failure analysis. These EMI filters used capacitors manufactured by Hua Jung Components (HJC). Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction. Most electronics contain an EMI filter, either as a separate device or embedded in circuit boards.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received two 3-phase inductor cards to be analyzed. Three Phase power is a three wire Alternating Current (AC) power circuit. Most US commercial buildings use a3 Phase 4 Wire 208Y/120V power arrangement because of its power density and flexibility.Compared to single phase, a 3phase power arrangement provides 1.732 (the square root of 3) times more power with the same current and provides (7) power circuits. An inductor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores electrical energy in a magnetic field when an electric current is flowing through it.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received two Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) with failed Insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). The IGBTs were Toshiba GT40T301s. An insulated-gate bipolar transistor is a three-terminal power semiconductor device primarily used as an electronic switch which, as it was developed, came to combine high efficiency and fast switching. It switches electric power in many modern appliances: variable-frequency drives (VFDs), electric cars, trains, variable speed refrigerators, lamp ballasts, air-conditioners and even stereo systems with switching amplifiers.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received two PCB assemblies upon which were several failing Vishay CRCW1210-HP-e3 surface mount (SM) resistors. Surface mount technology (SMT) is a method for producing electronic circuits in which the components are mounted or placed directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs). An electronic device so made is called a surface-mount device (SMD). In the industry, it has largely replaced the through-hole technology construction method of fitting components with wire leads into holes in the circuit board.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received several lighting tracks for failure analysis. They all had what appeared to be arcing which caused severe copper pitting, melting of the Noryl, and distortion of the power bus bar. The neutral bus was also pitted but not nearly as bad as the power rail. Electrical arcing is an electrical breakdown of a gas that produces an ongoing electrical discharge. The current through a normally non-conductive medium such as air produces a plasma; the plasma may produce visible light.
