How to Identify a Failed Component
When a component fails, there are a few indicators that can identify the component that failed and aid in troubleshooting the electronics. This article explains
Causes of Component Failure
Parts fail, and electronics break. Good design practices can avoid some component failures, but many are simply out of your hands. Identifying the offending component and why it might have failed is the first step in refining the design and increasing the reliability of a system that experiences repeated component failures. There are numerous reasons why components fail. Some failures are slow and graceful, offering time to identify the component and replace it before it fails completely. Other failures are rapid, severe, and unexpected. Some common reasons for components to fail include:
AgingBad circuit designCascading failureChange in the operating environmentConnected incorrectlyConnection failuresContaminationCorrosionElectrical stressElectrostatic dischargeManufacturing defectMechanical shockMechanical stressOvercurrentOver-temperatureOvervoltageOxidationPackaging defectsRadiationThermal stress
Component failures usually follow a trend. In the early life of an electronic system, component failures are more common and the chance of failure drops as the components are used. The reason for the drop in failure rates is that the components that have packaging, soldering, and manufacturing defects often fail within minutes or hours of first using the device. This is why many manufacturers include a several hour burn-in period for their products. This simple test eliminates the risk of a bad component slipping through the manufacturing process, resulting in a broken device within hours of purchase. After the initial burn-in period, component failures typically bottom out and happen randomly. As components age, natural chemical reactions reduce the quality of the packaging, wires, and the component. Mechanical and thermal cycling also take a toll on the strength of the component. These factors cause failure rates to increase as the product ages. This is why failures are often classified by either the root cause or when it failed in the life of the component.
