Did it ever happen to you?

[Gilles C]

Agrrrr.... I just opened a switchbox I began to wire over a year ago, and look what I found...



...a preamp with liquid tape on it. Now I don't have any idea what it is. I even forgot why I did that. 

It's not the first time that I have to try to identify one of my circuits, but never like that 

So, take note of what you do before you forget. I will now...

Gilles

[Paul Marossy]

So, take note of what you do before you forget.

Good advice. I've done as a habit that from the first project that I built. I'm glad I did after having built something like 65 different things! 

[mac]

To avoid this situation I put the schem inside the box.


mac

[petemoore]

  I used to mark the edge of perfboard with magic marker, so I could find out what schematic the circuit on the board belonged to..

[R.G.]

I try to make an "owner's manual" for anything that I put into regular service. And that's not just effects. For instance, I have a manual for my rainwater collection system detailing special notes about how it works, where the pipes are laid, pipe size, valves and what they're there for, pump ratings, filter ratings, manufacturer and type of pump and filter as well as how much it cost me, and so forth. That way when I have to replace something or work on it, it's not first a voyage of discovery before I can do my voyage of repair.

All of these were at one time in a single subject spiral notebook, but with the advent of computers and scanners I can just collect all the info in a subdirectory and put it on a CDRW. Very handy indeed.

This was one of the more valuable tips I picked up in my first year as an engineerling.

[Torchy]

I treat every build as though I were going to sell it and create a pdf for each.

[Paul Marossy]

I treat every build as though I were going to sell it and create a pdf for each

I did that for the one thing I designed that I was considering getting a utility patent on. Well, it's an owner's manual without the schematic. The schematic inside the pedal is another trick I have used, too.

[MartyMart]

To avoid this situation I put the schem inside the box.
mac

Great idea, I'm staring into a shoe box full of builds, trying to fathom out what they all are !!
( recently, I've been clipping the "name" onto the circuit or on the enclosure lid )

MM.

[idlechatterbox]

Post-it notes stuck inside the box work for me. In a different life, I recall pulling access panels off aircraft and seeing "notes" left by previous mechanics, usually explaining "unconventional" repairs.

The idea of a spiral notebook is good. The idea of a mini- owner's manual is also good. I find that having a cheap digital camera nearby saves me a lot, since if all else fails I can just refer to a photo  of what everything looked like before I tore into it and lost half the pieces. 

[Gilles C]

I never thought of the Post-it notes. It's a very good idea for quick builds, things we just want to try without knowing if it will work. That's something I will try for sure.

Most of the time , I keep the notes on my builds, and I try to take pictures that I keep on my PC. But for quick builds, I "forget" sometimes.

From now on, I think I will also try to add a schematic inside the boxes.

I remember the "Log Books" that had all the repairs and changes on the equipment in one of my old jobs. But I didn't consider all my projects important enough to use these kinds of logs. That was a mistake. Everything we do is important.

Good ideas guys. I will use some of them.

Gilles

[Somicide]

I can't identify more than 1/4 of my early CCB (Cardboard citcuit board  ) projects. 

Great idea, I'm staring into a shoe box full of builds, trying to fathom out what they all are !!

I see we both have the ominous shoebox of (Almost) No Return, eh?
I've taken to tacking my projects to a piece of plywood while building (makes a pretty good mobile desk, and I can work inside in the cool house without burning it down) and after finishing, I write on the inside what was done with a fine point sharpie.

[Paul Marossy]

I write on the inside what was done with a fine point sharpie.

I use Sharpies, too. 

[Gilles C]

I use sharpies also... but not all the time.

I remember now that the circuit I used liquid tape on and glued inside in that box is a circuit that was in one of these boxes like yours, and was doing nothing. So I decided to use it. But I have so many of these circuits that I still can't remember which one it was.

And I had 2 surgeries last years and stayed over a year without touching these circuits. My wife says these surgeries affected my memory. I think she's right...

So I started to take more notes of what I do 

Gilles

[dr]

....heres one worse-I finished populating the PCB,then potted it......powered it up after it dried, couldn't figure out why it didn't work....I guess I should have flipped it over and soldered the components first....

[Gilles C]

Thanks for the story... I don't feel so bad now. I'm not the only one to forget things 

Gilles

[markm]

Hi fellas,
I have one of those "component salvage yards" too.
Some of the stuff I know exactly what the circuit is, others it takes a little time yet still others leave me wondering
"what the hell is THIS......and how the hell did it get here?!!"
Some of these become donors for current projects! 

[Noplasticrobots]

Sharpie on perf for me.

[Gilles C]

I was wondering how I could have identified a pcb with black liquid tape all over it ...

There must be some white paint pens with a fine point. I'll check that. Even for pcbs, it would be better.

Gilles

[idlechatterbox]

Some of those "metallic-ink" pens you see in the school supply aisles in stores (around here anyway) will write on black and most any surface. The only kicker is you usually have to buy a set of 30 assorted colors to get the one you want. 

[Toney]

Yep me too.
Sharpie on the board.

I build on Vero, so what I do is copy each layout to another "built" folder with "build notes" added showing any changes /mods and suggestions to self.