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"Tracing schematics" is
the same as "tracing
circuit diagrams" in the UK.
What it means is,
relating a circuit
schematic to the actual
physical layout of a
piece of electronics.
It is a necessary skill
when fault finding.
To do it, you must be
able to recognise
components and read
their values, or type
numbers.
You must also know their
circuit symbols.
If working on printed
circuit boards, it helps
if you are able to see
both sides of the board.
You must isolate the
power before doing this.
To begin with, you need
a starting point.
This is usually a single
component which you are
able to locate on both
the schematic and the
equipment.
It is something easily
identifiable, such as a
mains transformer,
loudspeaker socket,
power transistor with
marked type number etc.
Once you have done this,
you move on to identify
other components
connected to this
component.
After that, identify
more components, moving
in the direction of the
part of the circuit
which you are
investigating.
You should be able to
identify all the
components in that part
of the layout which
interests you.
Relating the schematic
and the practical layout
makes fault finding much
easier.
This skill is also
useful if you don't have
a circuit schematic.
You can identify the
component layout around
the area in which you
are interested and trace
(draw) that part of the
schematic.
This skill also enables
you to make a component
layout drawing, using a
schematic as a guide.
"Reading schematics" is
something completely
different.
It means the ability to
look at a schematic and
describe in detail how
the circuit works.
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