Poll on TVS problems - just for fun

[poehere]

OK considering the wave of TVS issues that has hit this forum I am curious on this one. This is to all PC Techs who work in this field for more than 10 years and everyone whio does DR work.

For me I have been in this field since 1976 and I have had 1 and only 1 PCB board fry with a TVS issue. In my shop in all the time I have done DR work I have in here 1 and only 1 TVS issue where the guy plugged in the wrong power supply. I have had 1 smooth chip with a hole in it, and one Hitachi board completely dead and not a TVS but smooth chip issue on it.

Seems we now have a major wave of TVS issues here on the forum. I think this one is taking up over 70% of the post here. This one is starting to be out of control and I am not sure if I am the only one who thinks so on this one or not. But since one member joined this forum we have nothing but TVS issues now on here.

So all you DR shops and PC repair shops out there how many times do you actually see a TVS issue come into you. Or is it just here on the forum that we see them? All comments are welcome.

[drc]

For me it is not super common but we do see them from time to time.

I do know that Franc has been frequenting several other forums and telling people to come post their TVS problems here so that might account for some part of the increase. I also know that some other people have other more conspiracy-minded theories

[BlackST]

Must be ONLY an epidemy ... While in 2006 the problems were mostly firmware or HW related, then since a certain moment all the 19v plugs have an irresistible attraction to the wrong holes (and in analogy there's no 'condom' to... limit the damage), all the lightning and crap power supply seem to have a convention HERE. Stats at hand, the most unlucky guys with electronics problems seem to have very often in common the nickname, always in a 'name123' notation, the location - UK on top, then weird places like planet earth, helix nebula, universe or things like that. When I have some time I want to see the time of posting, answers and correlation to time zone - because there are funny things there too. Just for fun I want to see the incidence of TVS problem on other high traffic forums , can't believe this forum is the trendsetter. There are other strange funny things also, but could be argument for another poll . In any case , something somewhere maybe "porta sfiga" (brings bad luck) to electronics

[fzabkar]

I do know that Franc has been frequenting several other forums and telling people to come post their TVS problems here so that might account for some part of the increase.

I try to avoid directing people to this forum. I don't want them to hate me as well. :mrgreen:

The reality is that shorted diodes are a common problem in hard drives that can be adequately addressed by DIY forums, without professional involvement.

Here is a forum where a much friendlier data recovery pro answers frequent questions on the issue:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardwar ... e-support/

I have been around electronics for a long time, and I've seen numerous failures involving protection diodes in all sorts of equipment. In fact a friend who used to service car electronics for a major manufacturer refers to them as "dickhead diodes".

I also know that some other people have other more conspiracy-minded theories :mrgreen:

ISTR one of your colleagues saying that blown diodes in SSDs will still keep him busy. Somebody's not telling the truth ...

Anyway, if TVS diodes are an immeasurable fraction of the DR (data recovery) business, then ISTM that it would be good PR for the pros to assist those who come looking for help with this minor problem, otherwise they stand to appear mercenary.

[BGman]

Ann,
if you come to my country You'll see a LOT of HDD's with burn TVS's, a LOT of (dropped) HDD's with scratched media surfaces and only a few with SA problems.
So, please, don't make conclusions based on yours paradaise island.

[Nick_CT]

My first ever DR job was a dead Samsung 500GB. TVS had gone. Second ever job was a burnt SMOOTH chip. Let's just say I was lucky.

[BlackST]

There is an underground betting going on between the colleagues...

[jono-ats]

Ann,

I'm a little unclear on the purpose of the poll.

Are you asking how many hard drives have WE PERSONALLY burned up (i.e. caused them to fail), vs. what I THINK you mean to say: How many bad PCBs have you encountered?

In either case, is there a time frame? In a year? Ever?

THX

[poehere]

Ann,

I'm a little unclear on the purpose of the poll.

Are you asking how many hard drives have WE PERSONALLY burned up (i.e. caused them to fail), vs. what I THINK you mean to say: How many bad PCBs have you encountered?

In either case, is there a time frame? In a year? Ever?

THX

Well it was actually to see how many that you might of burned up and also how many others have burned up that you had to repair. I just used the example that in all the years I have done this work and worked with hard drive only once did I ever burn a PCB TVS on one of my drives. Also just gave a few examples of what I see coming in here. But like pointed out I live in a paradise islands. But not always have I lived in a paradise islands and in the years I do not see the wave of TVS problems as I do right now on this forum. Seems we have a mass wave of them coming in here. That was all. Just curious if the newer HDD are all tha fragile and that the TVS on them burn up as easily as they do here on this forum. I know it can happen with a bad PS sometime or someone adding a HDD to the system without turning it off first. This can do it. But some of the stories that I read here seem a little out of form or true to how it happens on it.

[fzabkar]

I'm answering TVS questions at the rate of about one or two per day. Over the last 12 months I could have earned enough DR (Diode Removal) income to buy a small South Pacific island. Then again, with the prospect of global warming, perhaps Greenland would be a better investment.

[poehere]

I'm answering TVS questions at the rate of about one or two per day. Over the last 12 months I could have earned enough DR (Diode Removal) income to buy a small South Pacific island. Then again, with the prospect of global warming, perhaps Greenland would be a better investment.

How much do you think we charge for a TVS problem on this? I guess you are estimating we charge around 500+ dollars on this one. Well guess again you are wrong. So I do believe the place you will buy can not be that grand and in the best of locations. Good luck

[pclab]

I had already 2 or 3 cases. One of them was solved with TVS removal.

This problems, I think they tend to be more usual, because of external HD's. The user sometimes connects the wrong PSU or the PSU dies and so the PCB burn.

[BlackST]

THE PROBLEM IS ELSEWHERE.