5 ways to detect short circuits on electronic boards

Short circuits are one of the most common causes of breakdowns in electronic boards.

Almost any component is susceptible to short circuiting.

Even the printed circuit, or the solders.

In this article I am going to tell you five ways to detect short circuits on a board.

Let's go see them.

1. Locate a short circuit by measuring resistance

Obviously a short circuit is a zero ohm resistance at a point where it should be much higher.

But in reality, resistance is never equal to zero ohms.

There is always a little resistance, no matter how low.

By understanding a little physics and basic electronics, we will know that resistance depends on
length.

Without going into mathematics, the longer a conductor is, the more resistance it has.

In a short circuit, the closer we measure, the lower the resistance.

And the further we go on the plate, the higher the resistance will be.

Up to this point it seems logical and easy.

We simply measure the resistance at different points on the track, focusing on the points with a
lower value.

There will be the component, track or solder that causes the short circuit.

The problem is that this is very easy when we measure a few meters of cable.

But on a plate, everything is very close.

Therefore, the difference in resistance is minimal.

We are talking about milliohms.

How do we measure such low values with the multimeter?

Well, it's difficult, unless we have a very sensitive team.

The normal thing to do here would be to use a milli ohmmeter .

Basically, it is special equipment for measuring very low resistances, even in microhms (μΩ).

2. Locate short circuits with thermal imaging cameras

A thermography is a thermal image similar to a photograph, but with colors proportional to the
temperature.

In this way, the hot areas have a very contrasting color with the cold ones.

A short circuit causes the current to be very high in the affected area.

Therefore, sometimes it is really easy to locate a short circuit with a thermal imaging camera.

Although it is also possible that a specific point is not marked, but rather an entire area, or
several tracks of the printed circuit in which there are many components.

To differentiate which element is the cause, you have to “see” the path that the current is
following from the power supply.

This way you can deduce which “downstream” element causes the “upstream” overload.

3. Locate a short circuit with the evaporation of a liquid

As we have seen, a short circuit causes overheating in an area of the board.

This means that if there is a liquid on the plate, it will evaporate sooner in the hotter areas.

So it seems very logical to wet the plate, and then apply tension to see which area dries first.
Although, thinking about it, mixing the words “wet” and “tension” in the same sentence does not
make that much logic.

Most liquids reduce insulation, or can cause electrolytic effects.

So you have to be careful when using liquids on plates under tension.

I have done it with isopropyl alcohol, on digital boards, where the voltage is usually about 5V.

Furthermore, since it is so volatile, just by turning on the power you can quickly see where there
are hot spots.

Since the alcohol evaporates in a very short time, it hardly affects the operation of the plate.

Of course, never use liquids with plates that work at mains voltage, much less if they work at
high voltage.

I have seen rays travel through a wet plate, in corona effect equipment, or diesel burners, which
work with voltages higher than 3kV.

To avoid conductivity problems, oils can be used, which, at high temperatures, typical of a short
circuit, generate quite visible white smoke.

The problem is cleaning the oily remains from the plate afterwards.

The ideal is to use a special cooling spray for electronics.

It cools a lot, and leaves little residue, so you have to use it quickly and with more attention.

4. Locate a short circuit by touching components with your

fingers
This is the least recommended technique.

But I would be lying if I said that I have never applied it.

On boards with very low voltages, 12V or less, sometimes it is enough to touch the components
to discover abnormal temperatures.

I will officially tell you not to do it, and to use the methods above.

But since I know that few will listen to me, I will tell you to be especially careful.

If a piece is very hot, it can cause burns.

Even your skin can become a coating of some resistance if you are not careful.
Touch very lightly, before resting a finger on a component.

And, of course, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you make sure that the board is isolated from the
mains.

Many appliances have transformerless power supplies, so touching any component can put you
in contact with the mains.

So before using this method, make sure you have fully assessed the risks.

Remember that when we talk about electric current, any mistake can be the last.

5. Use a laboratory power supply

Surely in one of the previous points you have already asked yourself this question:

How do I measure the board with voltage, if the short circuit causes the power supply to be
protected or the fuse to blow?

It's a great question, I congratulate you for thinking of it.

You can apply voltage to the area of the board affected by the short circuit.

Of course, this stress can cause further damage, such as burning of the copper tracks.

That is why the ideal is to use a laboratory power supply, which allows you to adjust the voltage
and current.

If you are measuring, for example, the 5V supply of a digital electronics section, you can connect
the source with 4V and 50mA.

This means a power of about 20mW, which is bearable by most components.

This way you can see if any component is heating up, following the methods already explained.

If nothing gets hot, you can slightly increase the current, for example to 100mA.

I don't recommend going much higher unless you're powering a power section.

Normally this value already generates enough heat in the affected area, especially if we are
using a cooling spray.

Of course, be careful with refrigerant sprays, because they can contract materials suddenly and
crack them, such as diodes and ceramic capacitors.

What technique do you use to locate short circuits in

electronic circuits?
I have told you five techniques.

They are not the only ones, there are many more.

Which one did you like or surprise you the most?

Leave me your comment below, or subscribe directly , and tell me everything by email.

Do you want to learn more about how to locate short

circuits?
There is already a course with techniques to locate short circuits explained in a step-by-step
video in the Electronicology Club .

Take a look, the first class is open, and you can access the full course, all the others that are
already published, and a new one every week for only €20 per month, with no commitment to
stay.

About Eugenio Nieto

I help maintenance and repair technicians diagnose breakdowns more effectively, through my
books, courses, or the FidesGeM application, which you can find at the Fidestec academy .

Get to know me better. . .

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Comments

1. Albella says

09/13/2018 at 18:01

Magnificent, professor. I have always used “the finger”, but I will take into account what
you have taught me today. Thinking that with the cell phone camera I can see if the LED
on a remote control works or not, something that is not observable with the naked eye...
Will there be an invention to make a thermal or infrared camera?

Reply

2. Alex says

09/13/2018 at 18:20

Your article is very good. I would like to know how you repair when there is no information
or plans. I follow the logic of the circuit, but it is very complicated sometimes.
Thank you very much for your cooperation

Reply

3. Jose del Valle says

 09/13/2018 at 19:09

On many occasions I usually use technique 3, but replacing the alcohol or oil with gel flux.
In addition to making a characteristic hum, this does not a priori produce harmful effects
on the plate. For proof I leave you the sample of how it looks easily.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOUxnTbhznd/?
utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=4td2h96b87yb

Reply

4. Sergio says

09/13/2018 at 19:18

Greetings, where I worked before, they taught me to divide by stages, the source is
isolated first, it is connected if the fuse does not blow, it is said that the source is good,
and the next stage is connected, it is disconnected element by element, until where the
fuse is blown and the elements of that stage are checked, it is a little tedious but very
effective, and it has given me very good results

Reply

5. Alfredo Suarez says

09/13/2018 at 19:24

Apart from the thermal camera, there are Chinese guns to measure temperature from a
distance that are quite precise by focusing the laser on the component in question. Then
it is interesting to know which sections or components use certain voltage values, 1.8V
3V 5V... and as the source increases, look at which one the consumption begins to
skyrocket. This way you can go more with a fixed shot when measuring temperatures.

Reply

6. Roberto Salgado says

09/13/2018 at 19:43

Thanks Eugenio for sharing those tips, coincidentally I am looking for a short in a
switching power supply and I am using a homemade instrument that consists of an outlet,
a filament bulb so that it absorbs the short and the source does not continue to fail. The
fuses are blown so first I disconnected the cold part from the hot part (optocouplers,
 secondary of the chopper etc.) and connected the source to the lamp and the filament
bulb of the test instrument continued to light up so I discarded the cold part of the source
and I concentrated on the components of the hot zone starting with the mosfet, then the
diode bridge and who believe what caused the short was the main capacitor that when
measured with a multimeter and capacitor it marked well but I barely took it out of the
plate went short…

Reply

7. ADD killer says

09/13/2018 at 20:30

Very good ideas, I'm going to apply them, I had read it before, I thought it was brilliant.
And the comments on each video too.

Reply

8. walter says

09/13/2018 at 23:16

Brother Eugenio, excellent contribution, it has been quite academic, the truth is I have
learned the master class, I would like you to give more about it, I would be eternally
thanking you Master, greetings.

Reply

9. Jose Luis says

09/13/2018 at 23:31

Good, professional and interesting article. I in particular use the cooling spray method,
and why fool ourselves, the finger method too, who hasn't used it. Short circuit articles
welcome.

Reply

10. Cipriano Olivar says

09/13/2018 at 23:53
 Excellent, many thanks to all the collaborators and creators of the page. I wish protection
and good health for Eugenio Nieto and everyone.

Reply

11. gonzalo coronado says

09/14/2018 at 00:59

Like all excellent articles, I feel completely enlightened, thank you for making the
knowledge available to us, thank you Eugenio grandson, blessings

Reply

12. Juan says

09/14/2018 at 01:23

Hello Eugenio, the truth is that I would like you to make a video about locating short
circuits on the boards, I like the topic.

Reply

13. Nestor Rojas says

09/14/2018 at 02:41

Mr: Grandson, I would really like to make a video on locating short circuits in electronic
boards to see how he puts these methods into practice.

Reply

14. Juan Martinez says

09/14/2018 at 06:47

A mini-course on the subject would be very good, since many times the failure occurs on
tracks and that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Reply
15. Francisco says

09/14/2018 at 09:58

Interesting topic, I would like you to publish a video using that cooling spray to see how it
works...

Reply

16. Peter says

09/14/2018 at 11:05

Good morning.
Regarding the use of “cold” to locate short circuits:
Taking, depending on which circuits and/or semiconductors, to the point where they turn
white when applying “cold” to them and then applying voltage to them, has its risks...
-Semiconductors, diodes, transistors, zeners... do not cope very well with sudden
changes in temperature.
-Solders on SMD components could also end up cracking if they are not very fine.
-Electrolytics can lower their value to extremes that cause other circuits to malfunction.
– …
What I am trying to say is that this technique is not risk-free and you must know very well
the area that is going to be cooled in order not to cause new breakdowns.
I stick with alcohol and related liquids, for use on PCB's.
All the best.

Reply

o Eugenio Nieto says

09/14/2018 at 11:15

Indeed Peter.
You have to be careful with dilations and contractions.

Thanks for commenting

Greetings!

Reply
17. Edmundo says

09/14/2018 at 2:05 p.m.

Thank you for the information, it was very useful to me. I would be delighted to be able to
participate in the virtual classes and everything you published.

Reply

18. eusebio says

09/15/2018 at 02:19

I really needed to detail the auto-ocilant source...you don't comment anything about it,
with that I struggled as a newbie repairing it...

Reply

19. Santiago Frias says

09/15/2018 at 02:21

I use the thermal imaging camera, which saves you risks and waste, combined with an
adjustable current/voltage source. It is not only useful in electronics, but also in electrical
equipment and mechanical friction.
The weak point is that you have to know what you are doing, because it is easy to
misinterpret a reflection or the emission temperature in shiny metallic components (you
have to incorporate thermal witnesses with kapton tape, always keep your eye out of
tension and unloaded equipment).

Reply

20. Jesus says

09/16/2018 at 1:38 p.m.

Excellent article, as always you make what seems like an unknown world to us very easy
to understand and improve our diagnostic and repair techniques. Eagerly awaiting new
content to improve as repair technicians
Regards, and thank you very much.
 Reply

21. José Antonio says

09/16/2018 at 22:27

As always, great article. Good methods to locate short circuits. Thank you so much

Reply

22. andrea says

09/17/2018 at 2:02 p.m.

The techniques I use are: touching with the finger and using the cooling spray.

Reply

23. Arthur says

10/06/2018 at 20:50

Good afternoon, Eugenio, I greet you from Colombia as always, sharing your knowledge
with your followers. I would like you to make a video with the electronic coolant. Can you
tell me the name of the refrigerant so I can buy it here in Colombia.

Reply

o Eugenio Nieto says

10/16/2018 at 11:49

Just ask at any electronics store.

They were widely used in the days of tube TVs, so you will know them in any
“regular” store.

Reply

24. Jose Luis says

 04/24/2019 at 1:20 p.m.

Very good article Eugenio, we could use a video using the regulated source, for example,
when we connect to a circuit powered at 12v, what voltage and what amperage limit to
set on the source.

Reply

25. Adrian says

10/22/2019 at 1:34 p.m.

He used the ground technique, which consists of using a laboratory source and a
multimeter, both negative leads go to ground and the positive lead of the source goes to a
short point on the track, with the positive lead of the multimeter the components are
inspected. that are on the shorted track, measuring voltage.

Reply

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