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'''Welcome to the Restart Wiki!''' This is a place where those of us in the Restart community with experience and skills in mending appliances and gadgets can share them with those who are starting out, or whose own knowledge lies in different areas.
<div class="welcome-header">
Welcome to the Restart Wiki!
</div>
 
<div class="welcome-text">This is a place where those of us in the Restart community with experience and skills in mending appliances and gadgets can share them with those who are starting out, or whose own knowledge lies in different areas.</div>
 
[[File:Blue_obj@2x.png|class=responsive-image]]


'''What it isn't:''' It isn't going to show you how to fix a particular make and model of device, which we leave to the various fix-it sites and many disassembly videos. You can also get help with a device on social media using [https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=SOSRestart&src=typd #SOSRestart]. Here, we concentrate on basic and widely applicable principles.
'''What it isn't:''' It isn't going to show you how to fix a particular make and model of device, which we leave to the various fix-it sites and many disassembly videos. You can also get help with a device on social media using [https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=SOSRestart&src=typd #SOSRestart]. Here, we concentrate on basic and widely applicable principles.
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* [[Case Studies]] - Our favourite Famous Fixes in which we learned something new, or which nicely demonstrated a diagnostic or fixing principle.
* [[Case Studies]] - Our favourite Famous Fixes in which we learned something new, or which nicely demonstrated a diagnostic or fixing principle.
* [[Finding a reliable professional]] - best practices and some London examples.
* [[Finding a reliable professional]] - best practices and some London examples.
===Glossary of Terms===
* [[Glossary]] - explanations of all the technical terms used in this wiki (and some more).


==Repairing with others==
==Repairing with others==
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==Techniques, Skills and Tools==
==Techniques, Skills and Tools==
* [[Sticky Stuff]] - How to stick things back together when they break
===Some really basic skills===
* How to wire a mains plug - this [http://www.rospa.com/home-safety/uk/northern-ireland/electricity/plugs-fuses/wiring-plugs/ step by step guide] shows you simply and with pictures.
* [[How to drive screws like a pro]] - Using a screwdriver is easy but using it properly may not be obvious.
* [[Types of screw head and screwdriver]] - Recognise even the more unusual types of screw so you can use the right screwdriver.
* [[Rescuing Damaged Screws]] - What to do if the screw head is damaged.
* [[How to use a multimeter]] - the most useful addition to your toolbox after screwdrivers etc.
* [[How to use a multimeter]] - the most useful addition to your toolbox after screwdrivers etc.
* [https://www.techwillsaveus.com/resources/learn-to-solder/ How to solder] - An amusing but informative resource from [https://www.techwillsaveus.com Technology Will Save Us]. (You don't need an expensive soldering iron though - it just makes it a little bit easier.)
* [[Magnifiers and Inspection Aids]] - You can't fix what you can't see. How to see better.
 
===Soldering skills===
* [https://www.kitronik.co.uk/blog/soldering-school-kitronik-university A Guide to Soldering] from [https://www.kitronik.co.uk Kitronic] is a complete guide to the art, including video demonstrations.
* [https://www.techwillsaveus.com/resources/learn-to-solder/ How to solder] is a more light-hearted and amusing but nevertheless informative resource from [https://www.techwillsaveus.com Technology Will Save Us]. (You don't need an expensive soldering iron though - it just makes it a little bit easier.)
* [[Surface mount soldering]] - What you can do and how to do it by supplementing the tools you probably already have with a few inexpensive extras.
* [[Surface mount soldering]] - What you can do and how to do it by supplementing the tools you probably already have with a few inexpensive extras.
* How to wire a mains plug - this [http://www.rospa.com/home-safety/uk/northern-ireland/electricity/plugs-fuses/wiring-plugs/ step by step guide] shows you simply and with pictures.
 
===Fixing skills===
* [[Connectors]] - Various different types you will meet, and how to disconnect and reconnect them.
* [[Connecting and joining wires]] - different methods for different situations.
* [[Sticky Stuff]] - How to stick things back together when they break.
 
===Staying safe===
* [[PAT testing]] survival guide.
* [[PAT testing]] survival guide.
* [[Magnifiers and Inspection Aids]] - You can't fix what you can't see. How to see better.
* [[Personal Protective Equipment]] - keeping yourself safe.
* [[Electrostatic Discharge Precautions]] - how not to fry your gadgets with static.


==Understanding how stuff works (or doesn't)==
==Understanding how stuff works (or doesn't)==
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* [[AC and DC]] - what's the deal?
* [[AC and DC]] - what's the deal?
* Electronic components - recognition, failure modes and testing:
* Electronic components - recognition, failure modes and testing:
** [[Basic electronic components]] - Resistors, capacitors, inductors and transformers.
** [[Basic electronic components]] - Resistors, capacitors, inductors and transformers, and quartz crystals.
** [[Active components]] - Diodes and rectifiers, transistors, and integrated circuits (ICs).
** [[Active components]] - Diodes and rectifiers, transistors, and integrated circuits (ICs).
** [[Passive components]] - Switches, push-buttons and connectors.
** [[Passive components]] - Switches, push-buttons and connectors.
** [[Protection components]] - Various devices for over-voltage and over-current protection. Fuses are only the beginning!
* [[Batteries]] - different types, shapes and sizes, what they're good for, how to buy them, use them and dispose of them.
* [[Batteries]] - different types, shapes and sizes, what they're good for, how to buy them, use them and dispose of them.
* [[Electric motors]] - different types, how to recognise them, test them and maybe fix them.
* [[Power supplies]] - how they work, what can go wrong, and how to test and fix them.
* [[Power supplies]] - how they work, what can go wrong, and how to test and fix them.
* [[How radios work]] - basic theory to help you understand what might be wrong when you can't see it with your own eyes.
* [[How radios work]] - basic theory to help you understand what might be wrong when you can't see it with your own eyes.
* [[Electric motors]] - different types, how to recognise them, test them and maybe fix them.
[http://www.learnabout-electronics.org/ Learn About Electronics] is an excellent site if you'd like a different view of the basics, or if you'd like to go deeper.


==Computers and home office==
==Computers and home office==
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===Computer Hardware===
===Computer Hardware===
* [[Yes, you can fix your laptop!]]
* [[Laptop power problems]].
* [[Laptop power problems]].
* [[Clean up! Cool down!]] - dealing with dust build-up and overheating in laptop and desktop computers.
* [[Clean up! Cool down!]] - dealing with dust build-up and overheating in laptop and desktop computers.
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===Peripherals===
===Peripherals===
* Troubleshooting [[inkjet printers]].
* Troubleshooting [[inkjet printers]].
* Data [[Projectors]].


==Electronic gadgets==
==Electronic gadgets==
How to [[extend the life of a device used mostly for web-browsing through browser choice.]]
===Feature phones===
===Feature phones===
===Smartphones (except Apple)===
===Smartphones (except Apple)===
* [[Android Tips and Tricks]]
* [[Android Tips and Tricks]]
* Installing a [[Custom ROMs|Custom ROM]] may enable you to extend the useful life of your phone or tablet.


===iPods, iPhones, iPads===
===iPods, iPhones, iPads===
* Summary of [[Summary iPhone iPad and iPod repair|iPhone, iPad and iPod repairs]].
* Summary of [[Summary iPhone iPad and iPod repair|iPhone, iPad and iPod repairs]].
* Using an [[alternative to iOS to save an older device]]


===Headphones===
===Headphones===
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==Household and Kitchen items==
==Household and Kitchen items==
* [[Carbon-based gadgets]] - all you need to know. (Just for fun!)
* [[Digital weighing scales]] - how they work and what might go wrong.
* [[Kettles and Electric Urns]] - how they work and the possibilities for fixing.
* [[Microwave Ovens]] (This page contains IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS.)
* [[Microwave Ovens]] (This page contains IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS.)
* [[Sewing machines]] demystified. Trouble-shooting, care and maintenance.
* [[Sewing machines]] demystified. Trouble-shooting, care and maintenance.
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* [[Vacuum cleaners]]
* [[Vacuum cleaners]]


==Scratch Pad==
==Unfinished articles==
* [[Style guide]] - lets give this wiki a consistent look and feel.
 
* [[Sandbox]] - experiment with wiki markup and editing here.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wiki_markup Wiki Markup] - how to edit wiki pages.
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
* [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list] - wiki plumbing, for gurus only.


Unfinished articles:
[[Category:General]]

Revision as of 11:08, 18 July 2019

Welcome to the Restart Wiki!

This is a place where those of us in the Restart community with experience and skills in mending appliances and gadgets can share them with those who are starting out, or whose own knowledge lies in different areas.

Blue obj@2x.png

What it isn't: It isn't going to show you how to fix a particular make and model of device, which we leave to the various fix-it sites and many disassembly videos. You can also get help with a device on social media using #SOSRestart. Here, we concentrate on basic and widely applicable principles.

Who it's for: It's aimed at anyone with a curiosity about how things work and how to fix them. No prior knowledge is assumed. In the spirit of sharing knowledge as widely as possible, everyone is welcome to read it. To contribute, just become a volunteer Restarter in your community and contact us.

Like any wiki, this one is work-in-progress. Pages referenced below in red don't yet exist but are projected.

If you wish to reuse anything here, you are welcome do so under the terms of the Creative Commons ShareAlike Licence 3.0.

To find out more about the work we do, and our vision of changing the world's relationship with electronics, please visit us at The Restart Project homepage.

General Topics

Glossary of Terms

  • Glossary - explanations of all the technical terms used in this wiki (and some more).

Repairing with others

Techniques, Skills and Tools

Some really basic skills

Soldering skills

  • A Guide to Soldering from Kitronic is a complete guide to the art, including video demonstrations.
  • How to solder is a more light-hearted and amusing but nevertheless informative resource from Technology Will Save Us. (You don't need an expensive soldering iron though - it just makes it a little bit easier.)
  • Surface mount soldering - What you can do and how to do it by supplementing the tools you probably already have with a few inexpensive extras.

Fixing skills

Staying safe

Understanding how stuff works (or doesn't)

A Restarters' Training Session makes an easy introduction to the following sections down to and including Electronic Components. It consists of a presentation with audio commentary, lasting around 50 minutes.

Learn About Electronics is an excellent site if you'd like a different view of the basics, or if you'd like to go deeper.

Computers and home office

Software

Computer Hardware

Peripherals

Electronic gadgets

How to extend the life of a device used mostly for web-browsing through browser choice.

Feature phones

Smartphones (except Apple)

iPods, iPhones, iPads

Headphones

Cameras

Satnavs

Home entertainment

Household and Kitchen items

Unfinished articles