Community Repair Clinic? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 02:36:55 am
content: Anyone with experience/advice for a community appliance repair clinic?A place where people can bring in small appliances/tools for help in diagnosis/repair.With all the sealed/non-repairable things these days, perhaps this is a dying concept?

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 02:55:21 am
content: I've heard of "repair cafes", but don't have any experience with them. Depending on the country there may be issues with working on mains power operated items (regulations, liability, etc) ?

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 03:38:14 am
content: we still have those back home but now most of them don't do real repair as we did before, really tracking down the root of the problemnow they just say- change the whole module- change the motherboard- it's cheaper to get a new onehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/repair-or-replace/msg5165907/#msg5165907

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 07:00:47 am
content: Do you have Men's Shed in the USA?https://mensshed.org/about-mens-sheds/mens-sheds-around-the-world/Maybe you could repairs through something like that.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 07:31:56 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on July 03, 2024, 02:36:55 amYes, I volunteer at our local Repair Cafe. What did you want to know?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 07:59:52 am
content: Question...Item X is repaired, and taken away.Item X fails, and bursts into flames or electrocutes someone.What happens next?

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 08:05:39 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on July 03, 2024, 07:59:52 amYes, that's what has put me off volunteering at the local one. They should have decent public liability insurance, but I don't know how many do?Edit: That and the worry that I might come across completely inexperienced bodgers, what do I do then?

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 08:07:48 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on July 03, 2024, 07:59:52 amFuneral probably...On a more serious note, people have to sign a waiver before getting stuff repaired. I'm 99% sure the organisiation has its own liability insurance anyway, and our Cafe has a resident PAT tester for mains powered items.If we think there is a risk (for example old crumbly wiring) we'll just advise and not repair.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 08:26:19 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on July 03, 2024, 08:05:39 amThat's a good question! Fortunately our volunteers are pretty experienced and resourceful bunch so we're pretty sorted. We have overlapping skillsets so tend to work together where possible. If that happened to me I would just say it how it is, let the local organiser know my feelings and not take part.It's not all electrical/electronic BTW. We have a seamstress team, a bicycle repairer, horologist and a sewing machine specialist although it's a bit random who actually turns up as it's a volunteer service.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 09:53:27 am
content: Seeing the US flag, my first response was liability. Just read customer reviews for DIY products on Home Depot, Lowes, or Amazon to get a sense of the level of public incompetence in America. That might not be true in rural areas, but in those areas, the locally owned hardware store is a resource, if one still exists.Many years ago (pre-Internet), I had a similar question about DIY auto repair. Someplace where one could rent a lift, had compressed air, and a few specialized tools. They still exist in the vicinity of Ft. Cavazos (formally Ft. Hood, TX):https://cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/sprocket-auto-craftsI was surprised to find that.For typical American cities and towns, something like that would have to be volunteer. That is, I don't see it could ever be a thriving business and one would need a screening process for both the helpers and users. Security from theft would also be a problem. Just look at all the locked shelving we now have at retail stores.Editt: spelling

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 10:20:58 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on July 03, 2024, 08:05:39 amFor that reason repair cafés over here need to perform a safety check based on VDE 0701/0702 (insulation resistance, PE resistance, touch current, etc) incl. documentation for mains powered devices after the repair. Such a tester costs about EUR 1000 - 1500.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 10:49:16 am
content: Quote from: madires on July 03, 2024, 10:20:58 amThat's the minimum necessary, of course. Presumably the test has to be done and recorded by someone who is competent and responsibleBut is it sufficient? deliberately ambiguous!

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 01:20:47 pm
content: Yep, the safety check requires an electrically skilled person (usually someone with a professional background in electrics/electronics). And the check is sufficient to limit the liability, i.e. anything happening after that is the device owner's responsibilty (or bad luck), unless he can prove that the repair café was grossly negligent or skrewed him on purpose.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2024, 01:43:08 pm
content: Here is a link to the one in Peterborough NH.https://www.maxtmakerspace.org/repair-cafeNote it states volunteer experts are on hand to helpyourepair your item. Still....I do not participate because of liability concerns. I may go to the next one and ask some questions.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2024, 12:27:49 am
content: Uhhh... Liability sounds like a major show-stopper.Unless you can arrange something covered by an existinginstitution like a community center or something.