Fault Finding an SSD - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mad Mart
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2024, 02:46:24 pm
content: Kingston 128GB SSD NOW V200A few years ago my SSD failed, PC unable to detect it. I replaced it but kept it to one side. Since then I've started to learn about electronics and the other day I stumbled across it and wondered if I can find the problem with it. Unfortunately, even after watching many videos, I still don't have a clue as to the fault. I have found one area which is quite warm (photo). I haven't removed any components from the board yet as I wanted to ask people's advice on how to troubleshoot. Obviously a schematic would be nice.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2024, 04:30:35 pm
content: seems they are some capacitors and maybe some ferrite beads, and maybe some resistors .... they should lead to ic's or the power section

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 03:31:42 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 05, 2024, 04:30:35 pmAgreed.Upper left side looks like the power side . The embedded processor is the large square package. The 2 below that are DRAM and of course the 6 NAND flash to the right. The Processor has no identification so finding the pin out is going to be difficult.

author: Mad Mart
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 10:14:19 am
content: I zoomed in so you can see the processor markings. It is a TC58NCF668GDT but I can't find any pinout diagrams.

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 10:33:16 am
content: Quote from: Mad Mart on January 05, 2024, 02:46:24 pmDo any capacitors in that area measure short in continuity/resistance mode?

author: Mad Mart
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 10:51:38 am
content: Quote from: shapirus on January 06, 2024, 10:33:16 amYes, several of them.

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 11:22:30 am
content: Quote from: Mad Mart on January 06, 2024, 10:51:38 amThen (obviously) something failed short on the board. And it's very likely something in that area that is getting warm, and it is often a capacitor that fails short. You need to find exact component that's heating up -- that's the one that is shorted. There are several methods: using a thermal camera, freezing the components with a liquified gas, then watching for where it thaws first, adding some alcohol on them and seeing where it evaporates first, and probably more.Remove the faulty component, test for shorts again, replace it with a working one. With what value? Hopefully it's not too critical, it may be just a bypass cap.

author: Mad Mart
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 11:32:08 am
content: QuoteThat was going to be one of my questions. None of these caps etc. are marked, so how do you know what value they are supposed to be if they have failed?

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2024, 11:42:58 am
content: Quote from: Mad Mart on January 06, 2024, 11:32:08 amTry to trace where it was connected. If it was a bypass cap, which is likely (as there should be no analog signal handling), then a generic 100 nF would work as a replacement.You can also try to measure the nearby caps.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2024, 03:02:50 pm
content: You can look up the data sheets of similar integrated circuits or memory etc. Support components are often used in examples and the same used across many products.