More than 50 million metric tons of e-waste are generated every year, and many organizations have yet to recycle their faulty electronic equipment. Salvaging electronic components is one of many approaches to reducing global e-waste. Electronics have various parts ideal for salvaging and repurposing.

Knowing how to test electronic components on a circuit board is vital to integrating salvaged electronic components safely and maintaining quality and functionality. With various testing methods available, engineers and technicians can make a sustainable choice, boost maintenance and repair processes and save on costs.

The Benefits of Salvaging Electronic Components

Salvaged electronic components involve procuring functional and practical parts from discarded electronics. It can save you money and amass assets for various projects. Discarded electronics have formed a separate market in many ways, as salvaging them provides engineers and technicians with options. Even obsolete components can be repurposed, helping you meet your sustainability objectives.

Some of the principal benefits of salvaging electronic components include:

• Inventory: Malfunctioning electronics may have several functional components. Desoldering them for reuse broadens your inventory to include standard and rare components no longer in production.
• Waste reduction: Salvaging the functional components from electronic devices reduces the quantity of e-waste in landfills, decreasing your negative environmental impact.
• Learning: Finding salvageable components requires you to disassemble a device, which helps your team understand and learn more about the product and construction.

Why Is Salvaged Electronic Component Testing Important?

New and salvaged electronic components require rigorous testing to ensure they're safe and functional before use. Depending on the industry and application, comprehensive testing may be a legal or regulatory requirement. The testing process also provides information on the remaining useful life of the part, which is essential for rebuilding printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other electronic components.

Aside from ensuring your products fulfill their intended function, testing helps you identify and remove counterfeit components and saves you from costly downtime repairing electronic elements. Any functional electronic equipment comprises many parts, each of which must perform optimally to ensure functionality and reliability.

Common Testing Procedures for Salvaged Electrical Components

Many testing procedures for new and salvaged components remain the same, although emphasizing testing for salvaged components is sound best practice in engineering and technical applications. Some standard testing procedures include:

Visual Inspection

A visual inspection is the first step of the testing process. As the name suggests, it involves assessing the component's appearance with the naked eye or a microscope. A visual inspection can rule out any damaged parts before you spend time and money on additional testing and equipment. Look for the following:

• Signs of physical damage, such as leakage, broken elements, visible cracks and color changes.
• Evidence of corrosion, including rust and any chalky buildup on the screw terminals.
• Signs of overheating, like burn marks on the board substrate or broken traces.
• Color changes, including subtle changes in the weld.

The IPC-A-601E Standard is a collection of visual quality and acceptability requirements for electronic assemblies. It outlines the need for magnification tools and acceptable lighting for acceptable visual inspections. Magnification aids are often necessary for examining PCB assemblies, and the human eye identifies details carried by reflected light. Therefore, magnifying details and illuminating them to detect minute defects is essential.

This process allows inspectors to conduct successful inspections in comfort, minimizing the possibility of eye fatigue. The correct magnification and illumination are essential for a successful visual inspection.

Electrical Testing

If your component passes a visual test, electrical testing is the next step in the testing process. Electrical testing evaluates an element's functional, timing or parametric performance when you apply electrical power. Electronics often fail due to electrical malfunction, so electrical testing is necessary to determine the malfunction's source.

Performing an electrical test involves applying a current to the component and observing its voltage or responses. Some common forms of electrical test include:

• Continuity testing: This type often consists of testing electronic components with a multimeter to determine the damaged components or broken conductors in a circuit. It can also help evaluate the soldering or resistance and verify or reverse engineer a circuit.
• Voltage measurements: Measuring voltage is essential to check the condition of an electronic device. You can complete this test with various testing equipment, including a voltmeter, digital multimeter or oscilloscope. Determining the strength of the electric current being pushed through the circuit and how fast it moves is essential to establishing equipment functionality.
• Resistance checks: Resistance checks determine the condition of a circuit or component by measuring the current's resistance through a circuit. Knowing how much current is lost can help identify which part is faulty using a multimeter.

Functional Testing

Electronic component functional testing verifies that a component or system performs as expected under specific conditions. Instead of examining individual parts, a functional test assesses the entire assembly. It involves simulating real-world situations, using automated test equipment and setting up custom tests.

Functional tests must be detailed and follow component-specific test protocols to identify hidden defects. Some standard functional testing methods include X-ray inspections, voltage meters and load testing. Functional tests can identify problems like signal distortion, inaccurate voltage and power issues, allowing you to maintain product quality.

Environmental Testing

Environmental testing is crucial to assess salvaged components' performance under different environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, vibration and electromagnetic interference. The three principal categories of this testing method are:

• Climatic testing: These tests evaluate the component under several climatic factors, including temperature, humidity and altitude. Depending on the equipment's intended uses, tests could include temperature cycling, damp heat and salt spray tests.
• Dynamic testing: A dynamic test assesses a component's performance under mechanical shock, vibration and impact.
• Combined testing: This series of tests combines climatic and dynamic tests to evaluate a part under multiple stressors.

How to Ensure Salvaged Electronic Components Meet Quality Standards

Government and industry regulations favor a sustainable approach to electronics use, provided that the end product is safe and performs the intended function. A detailed inspection and testing program can ensure your salvaged components maintain a high standard of functionality and safety.

Consider creating an internal quality management system (QMS), which includes adherence to industry standards. Each industry has a unique set of government and regulatory standards that change over time. Your salvaged components should follow these standards and gain the relevant certifications. In the electronics industry, some regulatory organizations include the Independent Distributors of Electronics Association (IDEA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Integrate Salvaged Components With Precision PCB Services

Salvaged components benefit many applications, provided you can rely on the repairs and rework. Precision PCB Services has provided products, training and consulting services for the assembly of PCBs since 1991. We pride ourselves on our commitment to optimizing our client's operations, reducing waste and increasing yield by saving products previously considered defective.

When you work with us, we provide a lifetime of technical support and a one-year parts warranty. We also offer PCB repair training and manufacturing process consulting services to keep your organization performing at its best. Contact us today to learn more, and one of our experienced team members will answer your questions.