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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2021 - 04 - 06 - ID#mlbmxa
11
Is it possible to fix your own electronics if you're totally blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by blind_system
I've never done this, personally. Does anyone here have any experiance.
1BlindNinja 12 points 2y ago
Hi, a total here. I have built a desktop system, can swap out drives, RAM, cards, etc. I’ve switched a SSD in a laptop, fixed a condenser tumble, fixed heating elements in ovens, stripped and rebuilt oil fired central heating boilers, fitted a car stereo and odds and ends like that. I’ve a speaking multimeter, and did electronic work prior to going blind, I would have fixed stereos and videos for people I knew. Also wired an entire 3500sq ft 2 storey house. I would love a colour detector for electric wiring.
blind_system [OP] 3 points 2y ago
Wow. Is there a way to acquire these skills with minimal sighted assistance?
1BlindNinja 1 points 2y ago
I’d suggest getting an old computer to work on for practice. Buy good tools, cheap crap just makes your life miserable.
Buy a pearl catcher, perfect for holding screws in fiddly places, 4 small claws grip the head of a screw and allows you to locate it into the screwhole. You can also get screwdrivers with same claws at the end, so you can drive it home too. Magnetic holders isn’t a great idea around electronics. A grounding strap is a worthwhile purchase to remove static charge from your body.
I have a very good spacial awareness and can “seee” what I’m working on, as in I can visualise the whole thing. I’ve rebuilt car brake systems too, fixed exhausts, replaced suspension parts, and do lots of DIY/plumbing etc.
Practice makes perfect. As a child I used to dismantle old tape players, TVs, lawnmowers, cars, etc.
Wiring the house was easy, once you got the ring mains sorted out. So the electric leaves the distribution board, goes to first socket/switch, to next, next, next, then back to the distribution board. Lights go to the ceiling rose usually, then it is twin brown and earth to the switch. I’ve toyed with doing Youtube videos if there would be demand, I am moving and doing a lifeskills & counselling course along with a supported employment certificate, as I currently help disabled people find employment. I’ve done a motivational speaking course, so will be building that up.
As regards appliances, they usually have generic issues, tumbles tend to blow the thermostats. 2 thermostats cost me £6 to buy off Ebay, which saved me shelling out on a new condensing dryer. They are located near the heating element; typically a box shape sticking out the back of your dryer. They are round, about 20mm dia and have 2 mounting lugs. Wires plug into them. If they overheat, they blow. Overheating due to lint filter not cleaned out and drum temp gets too high
dunktheball 3 points 2y ago
I have all parts to build a desktop and am too worried to try building myself so having someone help me. I wish I could do it myself, though. I have vision, but legally blind and it seems like connectors and screws are so tiny.
1BlindNinja 2 points 2y ago
Hi,I wrote a longer reply to another comment. I said about using a pearl catcher. It is about the size of a retractable pen and has 4 small claws and is handy for holding small screws. You can go fancy and buy a screwdriver with same on end of it, so it secures the screw on the driver tip and you can then drive it home once located. 😊
Thecapitalistboy 2 points 2y ago
Be careful, the color detectors are pretty inaccurate. I wouldn't risk my life with this.
1BlindNinja 1 points 2y ago
Yes, the current colour detectors are grim. I use Tap Tap See, or BME, where you get a person to ID them, or just facetime someone. A detector which you can put the cable into would be perfect, as when I fitted the Euro Socket in my classic car, to make installing new stereos easier was a headache, and I needed sighted assistance to get the colours for locations, then use my meter to pick up in the car for a switched live, permanent 12v supply, light spur for cluster lighting then the speakers.I’m waiting to get a student keen to make a unit, bound to be laser analysis available at a sensible rate for colour detecting. 😊
smkelly 2 points 2y ago
Do you have a make/model for your talking multimeter? And would you recommend it? I'm in the market for one of these so I can do some basic electrical wiring like swapping out light switches for smart ones.
1BlindNinja 5 points 2y ago
Hi, I should have, if you can give me until tomorrow evening, as I am at my Brother’s over the Easter holidays and I’m not at home. Yes, it is a good multimeter, but I had to order it from the US with a group of VI people, as it was a minimum order for shipping to UK. I think I have the instructions, if you drop me a DM I can share my Telegram ID and fire it across to you.
MizzerC 2 points 2y ago
Eager to know about this as well.
1BlindNinja 1 points 2y ago
Sorry for the delay in this, I had trouble locating a source online. not sure if still available, the model is as follows:

Refno.LK10-OMCat. No. LK-10-OM 2004/4/10 VI. 1Talking Multimeter

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$1

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The only problemm is that the test button on the red probe quit after about 3 times using it. As it jammed closed, it doesn't pose much of a problem, and a top tip I did was to get a couple of small crocodile clips, intended for fitting to banana plugs and crimp the end to fit the probe. This leaves you with free hand(s) to fire up a circuit for voltage testing. You can also lock the talking button on the unit itself, so it keeps repeating the readout. Hope this helps. This is one of my gripes, a lack of professional quality products, talking tape measures for example are shite, as if using with a chop saw etc, the dust tends to screw up the optical reader. -not the first time I've chucked a £60 tape up the yard as it starts to go into full jibberish mode. so I have 4 of the damn things now!
casserole_cat 5 points 2y ago
Well what are you trying to fix? Is it physically broken or is the software malfunctioning? And it also depends on how tech savvy you are. Depending on these things it’s also important to note that it can be extremely frustrating to fix a electronic if you don’t know what you’re doing but if it’s the outside of it once you start taking things apart you can’t stop and you must not lose a single piece or it’s also just garbage.

I’m legally blind and I spend all day on electronics for years so I’ve learned where everything is. So I typically just know what to do when it’s not working. And for the outside I can only do a few things. Like on a phone I can switch out a SIM card on my phone. And do a few other things. But my brother is sighted and he does better than me plus he is able to watch videos and know what to look for with his eyes. I mean he built he own pc and hand picked the pieces and it’s incredible. I don’t know if I could do that.

Mainly figuring out electronics just takes lots of patience. And if you don’t have that then don’t do it because something that you think will take 1 hour will end up taking 5 (and that’s for everyone blind or sighted it always takes longer than we expect unless it’s actually something very very simple). Also it is very possible to make the problem worse.
intellectualnerd85 3 points 2y ago
I listened to a blind electrician a couple of weeks ago. I’d say yes
je97 2 points 2y ago
I don't know if there's a one size fits all answer. I can take a computer apart and fix things, but I would have no idea about taking apart say, an air conditioning unit. Other people wouldn't know how to take apart a computer. It depends entirely on you, what you're trying to fix and what the issue is.
Timely-Fruit 1 points 2y ago
Hi, I can work on laptops, phones, tablets. Done stuff on cars before, and opened to trying whatever else may come to mind. I suspect I can do light switches and plug sockets as well, though I'd ask a sighted just to make sure I put the right cables to the right place. I guess as long as I can't screw up the wires and cause a fire, I'm willing to try and figure it out.
vip-sizzles 1 points 2y ago
It depends on what you are trying to repair & your level of knowledge. I've worked on desktops before & once did it in the dark. I've had mixed results with other electronics.
UnfortunateOkibum 1 points 2y ago
There are some serious dangers when dealing with electronics. Capacitors and inductors can seriously kill you if they’re still charged and you touch one. Without being able to visually identify the different components on a circuit board, it would be almost impossible to remove/replace a component safely. Don’t know if this is the level of depth you meant by fixing electronics. Apologies if I went too far
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