ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Can troubleshooting be taught?

Three factors make a great troubleshooter.

Cool temperment under pressure and frustration.

Raw IQ -- pure intelligence.

An intuitive mental frame of mind.

I take it for granted that any troubleshooter would be schooled in the basics.

A phenomenal troubleshooter would have a wide ranging interest in science and technology and understands the underlying mechanisms.

Anyone ever here of these two rules: (Two simple rules I have known since I started the trade.)

Follow the short from the source.
In this method you follow a short by measuring its ohm value, and following it though and taps of the circuit until you find it or pass it. If you pass it, take one step back. There it is... In this process you're splitting the circuit down to managable parts, only following the path of the short. Works the same for over-load, or indirect short.

Follow the open to the source.
When following an open, you start from the device without power, (Phase or Neutral) and follow the circuit back through the successive devices and conductors that provide power to it.

Like my chess comment, it's just like knowing which way the pieces move... Niether rule requires any schematic.


I vaguely remember some accronym...

Interview the operator.
Determine the problem.
Expose the circuit
N...(Now learn the circuit operation.)
T... (Test, and take notes.)
Isolate the circuit.
Follow the path to the problem.
Y... (Something like "You're done, now fix it.")


I don't have a lot of time right now, the wife wants to go to dinner, but later I'll post some more.



[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 09-12-2005).]

Really all trouble-shooting is, is being able to think logically.

[quote]Cool temperment under pressure and frustration.

Raw IQ -- pure intelligence.

An intuitive mental frame of mind.
[\quote]
I think Telsa hits the nail on the head here. If a guy tends to panic, they'll never be able to logically figure out the problem.

I'm one of those instinctive troubleshooters. It must be innate, not learned. My guys can look and not see. The main thing they forget is that the (whatever) worked at one time, so it does not need to be rewired.

My favorite no-power T/S tool is my solenoid-type voltage tester and a 3-prong extension cord plugged into a known-good receptacle. You have a reference hot, neutral, and ground, at least one of which is missing.

I'm not sure if it can be taught, but IMO it's related to experience. It could be organized into a list of most likely possibilities.

In residential, for instance, I'd consider it very unlikely for a wire to be open (as in blown open, not a bad or loose connection). However, if I found overfusing in the panel, the likelihood would increase substantially.

Dave

As far as logical thinking goes fellas.
I work on all sorts of Electrical systems.
My first question in my head would be "What would cause this to happen in the first place?".
An over-current or a short-circuit?.
Common sense would tell you to go and have a look at the other end of the run.
Most of the time you won't even need test gear, but if you do, make sure you have it with you.

yeah i think it can be tought,as long teaching means theory and the practical part.
troubleshooting is sure learning by doing ,but it is nothing if you don't have the basics i think

Troubleshooting CAN be taught. When we get called out to a problem, I tell the apprentice to watch my technique. Every approach to troubleshooting is the same. Don't panic, ask questions, and start from the basics then work from there. For the most part it's usually something simple and obvious that has caused the problem. Sometimes having blind luck helps too

The reason I might disagree with those who say it can not be taught, is be cause I was taught the skill right after the basics, and right before I knew anything else of electrical construction at all. I entered the trade in the military, and went to school as an Electrical Equipment Repair Specialist. (This is right after I also learned how to hit someone with a bullet from 1000' yards, or over hills with a .50 Cal machine gun. )

Anyway, after intensive therory, and general circuit operation, learning what it took to make something work for 10 hours a day for 4 months, and no field experiance. Learned how to troubleshoot, in a few short weeks after that. With simple straight forward guidelines. Those guidelines are the basics of the approach to the problem, and what many here refer to as "logical thinking" ect. Like the two rules I put above... Which way to approach and follow a short, and which way to approach and follow an open circuit. Following those two rules, your basic short or open cicuit are childs play IMO. Because they give you something to measure against, and path to follow. A basic over-load situation can be an easy (reverse) load calc' with some basic calculations. Electro-mechanical controls, can be a brain teaser just following them around, but not too difficult.

The only things that become even remotely difficult (or require a crystal ball) are over/undervoltage, and 3 phase motors and transformers, as it does take some interpitation of found readings, that might come through working and not working devices. Solid state, and programming are a different ball game.

I am not saying its easy, it can be very challenging! But I feel half the battle of teaching someone anything, is the student being willing to take the challenge, and being willing to learn, other-wise its a waste of time. The other half, is that you need a teacher to explain it properly, to the point that it can be simple. And for that, I totally agree, a good foundation in the basics are key, and you need those to work effectively in this trade anyway, IMO.