Hi everyone!
I studied Biomedical Engineering, but honestly, most of what I learned at university was theoretical. I have almost zero hands-on experience with electronics troubleshooting or repairing circuit boards.
Over the past few months, I’ve spent quite a bit of money on online electronics courses, components, a soldering station, a bench power supply, and a bunch of other tools.
I know the basic electronic components, what they do, and how to test them with a multimeter. But when I look at an actual circuit board, I have absolutely no idea where to start!
I even bought some old DVD player, modem, and radio boards to practice on, but now they’re just sitting on my desk because I genuinely don’t know what to do with them. 😅
I really want to learn how to look at a PCB, understand what each section does, trace power paths, figure out where to measure voltages and what readings to expect, and eventually troubleshoot faults without randomly testing components.
I’ve watched tons of YouTube videos, but there are so many different approaches that I just end up feeling overwhelmed and jumping from one tutorial to another.
My goal is to become a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) or Field Service Technician, and almost every job posting I’ve seen requires troubleshooting skills. Honestly, that’s the part that worries me the most because I feel like I have such a long way to go.
I’m willing to spend several hours a day practicing, and I’m hoping to make real progress within the next 1–2 months. I know I won’t become an expert in that time, but I really want to build some confidence and practical skills.
So what would you guys recommend I actually do with these boards? How do I start figuring out how a circuit works without a schematic? How can I practice troubleshooting if the boards are still working? Should I focus on reverse engineering first, or is there a better way to approach this?
If you were in my position, how would you spend the next 30–60 days practicing?
I really don’t want to buy another course or spend hours watching random YouTube videos. I just need a clear, practical direction.
I feel like I’ve bought everything I need, but I’m completely stuck on how to actually start learning.
I’d love to hear how you guys learned troubleshooting and got comfortable working with real circuit boards.
Thanks so much for any advice!