Extending Lifespan of Aging Circuit Boards: Methods to Reduce Scrapping Rate

The circuit boards will age after long-term use, leading to performance degradation, increased failure rates and other problems. How to delay the scrapping rate of aging boards?

1. Use high quality components paying particular attention to power and voltage ratings. Components that are not propperly rated are far more likely to fail prematurely.

2. Ensure that soldering is adequate for the size and purpose of the component, Relays, large capacitors, resistors, transistors etc, and especially connectors that get extra mechanical stress, should be soldered properly. If I had a dollar for every connector I have resoldered on boards such as laptops and power supplies, I'd be able touy everyone here a drink! Wave soldering usually leaves these components with inadequate solder to support them, especially if mechanical stress (copnnectors) or vibration (relays and other large components) is involved. It's worth manually putting more solder on these joints.

Of course these actions are best done at manufacturing, but No 2 can be done as part or preventive maintenance.

Conformal coating is a pertinent and efficient approach to augment the robustness and lifespan of circuit boards. Conformal coatings are thin films that are placed to the surfaces of electronic assemblies, such as circuit boards, in order to create a protective barrier against different environmental variables.
Integrating conformal coating into the manufacturing process or applying it as a post-production treatment can improve the dependability and resilience of circuit boards, leading to an extended operational lifespan and minimizing the necessity for early disposal.