On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 11:21 PM, Dr Skip wrote: > > > I need some help identifying a component in the attached pic (size and > quality reduced to list-acceptable numbers, so hopefully still clear > enough). I don't usually use components this small, and we won't even > go into my eyesight... ;) > > This is a key fob camera/recorder. It's been flaky since purchase and > while it had random 'bad' periods, it's unresponsive now, so I opened it > up. Under the battery is a large smd microcontroller. Upper left is a > mini usb and upper right is an micro SD card slot. > > Funny thing is, there is an unattached component lying on top > of the SD card holder (see pic). It's a long thin 'can' with 2 leads. > Pulling the battery back, I see an outline of the same shape screened > onto the pcb, with 2 pads that match this escapee component perfectly. > [see the area between usb and SD card] > However, there are only smudged minimal markings on the component (and > very, very tiny at that), and none other on the pcb. > > I can probably solder it in place, maybe, with some luck that my hand > holds steady enough. Big solder-glob potential I think... My guess is > it's a crystal or a cap. Can anyone confirm by sight and also let me > know if there might be a polarization issue, or can I put it in either > way? IIRC, a crystal won't care, but are there polarized caps this small > these days? > > The leads bend toward one direction, but I'm not sure if that's because > they were pre-formed and it never got soldered, or it bent backward > after soldering and broke loose and flipped over prior to case closure, > bending the leads the other way. Each way would cause the leads to bend > opposite from the other, so if it was a polarized component, I stand a > chance of flipping it wrongly. > > Thanks in advance. > > -Skip That's a 32.768 kHz watch crystal. No polarity, but somewhat vibration sensitive. Still, it will probably work when you solder it back. Put a big glob of glue on it. It's a bad design to have a part that big mounted without mechanical support. Regards, Mark markrages@gmail --=20 Mark Rages, Engineer Midwest Telecine LLC markrages@midwesttelecine.com --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .