About PC Boards and More!
I have been an electronic hobbyist since the age of 10 years old and I've been professionally involved with electronic related equipment for over 30 years. Over the years, I've spent many hours repairing electronic equipment of all kinds, from consumer electronic items to complex industrial machines.
One thing that most electronic items have in common, is that they have PC Boards (Printed Circuit Boards) which perform critical functions within the machine. Without that PC board, you basically have a useless piece of equipment on your hands. I found this out the hard way while doing electronic repair work ... I've diagnosed an electronic problem with a PC Board only to find out that the PC Board was not repairable.
It's one thing to realize that you'll have to put out the money for a new PC Board, but it's a completely new issue when you realize that the manufacturer no longer makes that PC Board! Then what?? One of my recent experiences along these lines is with an exercise machine I purchased for my home a few years ago, which cost me nearly $1000.00. When it stopped working (after the warranty period of course), I naturally thought I would check out the problem and hopefully repair it myself. I quickly diagnosed the problem to a specific PC Board within the unit, then called the company to buy one only to find out that the company no longer supported this machine.
This has happened to me several times in both my personal and professional life. In my line of work, I speak to people almost daily that have found themselves in a similar situation. In some cases, the machine is worth several hundred thousand dollars, but without that one PC Board, they are dead in the water. It is simply incredible to hear stories of entire production lines being shut down for days on end, while the company loses hundreds to thousands of dollars per hour.
It's because of my personal experience, coupled with the regular phone calls I get from frustrated people, that prompted me to start this business. People from all sectors have a need for PC Boards, whether it's for a complex industrial machine, a piece of scientific equipment, or something as basic as an appliance in the home. Most items listed here have industrial or scientific applications, but you may also find items used in home electronics and appliances