First-person immersive look at a day of repair work

An appliance repairman's day: herbal decoction pot not powering on (both switches fine, 23MΩ resistor dead, tried a 200Ω/300W, broken wire, LED burnt, charged ¥10); cordless vacuum with short runtime re-celled with domestic grade-A cells (internal resistance 13.44–16, consistent; spot-welded at gear 16, 3.8V all round, 13.5W/500mA charging normal); smart washing machine that keeps filling and never washes, water-level sensor replaced and sealed, ¥50

First-person repair vlog. Job one, a herbal decoction pot whose light won't come on: both switches fine, resistance reads 23 megohm which is wrong, the resistor is definitely dead, try a 200 ohm (spoken as 240; 499W trips, 300W), burn two resistors and watch the little lantern; the wire is broken too, and after the controller is repaired and powered the LED burns out again; oh well, fix it anyway, charge ¥10. Job two, a cordless vacuum with short runtime: open it up and test the battery; remove the fish paper on both sides; fit new domestic grade-A cells; measure each cell's internal resistance 13.44, 14.60, 15, 16, keep the resistance consistent; spot-weld at gear 16; after welding, voltage 3.8/3.8 OK; charging at 13.5W 500mA, charging is right. Job three, a smart washing machine: keeps filling non-stop and won't wash even when full, carried in; with no power the water doesn't come in with the tap open, but starts the moment it's switched on; check for air leaks; fit a new water-level sensor, sealed with glue, no test needed, 'the thing that senses the water level'; ¥50; glue dries overnight, test tomorrow; 'next time you need me it'll be after New Year'; perfect fix. Comments: can a TV that got knocked be fixed, can a broken clip be fixed, the Taiyuan folks want to visit, good skills and fair prices, why isn't the son on camera.

Outcome

Steps6 steps · click a frame to jump

1. 
   1. Decoction pot not powering on: switches fine, 23MΩ resistor dead, fit a 200Ω

   A decoction pot whose light won't come on either; light not on so check the switches; both switches fine; 23 megohm is wrong, the resistor is definitely dead; try fitting a 200 ohm.

   00:00 – 00:31
2. 
   2. Light on then burns out; wire broken; controller fixed, LED burns; ¥10

   Light comes on; 499W trips, burn two resistors and watch the little lantern; this wire is broken too; controller repaired, power on and the LED burns again; oh well, fix it, ¥10.

   01:02 – 01:39
3. 
   3. Vacuum short runtime: fit domestic grade-A cells, resistance 13.44–16

   Customer reports short runtime, open it up and test the battery; remove the fish paper on both sides; new domestic grade-A cells; first cell 13.44, second 14.60, then 15, 16; keep the internal resistance consistent.

   01:40 – 02:09
4. 
   4. Spot-weld at gear 16; voltage 3.8/3.8; charging 13.5W 500mA

   Screen reads 15.22 (a reading); spot-weld at gear 16; after welding measure voltage 3.8, 3.8 OK; 13.5W 500mA charging is right.

   02:13 – 02:56
5. 
   5. Smart washer keeps filling, never washes; check for air leaks

   Smart washing machine won't wash, water runs non-stop, won't wash even when full; carried in; with no power the water doesn't come in with the tap open, starts the moment it's switched on; see whether it's leaking air.

   03:10 – 03:55
6. 
   6. Replace the water-level sensor and seal, ¥50; perfect fix

   Fit a new one; sealed with glue, no test needed; this is called a water-level sensor, it senses the water level; ¥50; glue dries overnight, test tomorrow; next time you need me it'll be after New Year; perfect fix.

   03:59 – 04:47

Bill of materials

Measured on camera

Creator’s tips

• When re-celling, measure every cell's internal resistance and keep them consistent 02:07
• After welding check every cell's voltage matches, then verify charging power 02:41
• Washer keeps filling: no fill without power, fills as soon as it starts → water-level sensor 03:33

Pitfalls

• After the decoction pot's controller was fixed the LED burnt again; multiple faults 01:25

Li-ion safety

Quotes

Cost & time