1. “There’s always a reason”

2. Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid e-mail attachment to open at all” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid e-mail attachment to open at all” Nick Burns: “It’s the e-mail that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the e-mail that’s stupid, not you right?”

3. Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid microprocessor to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid microprocessor to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the microprocessor that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the microprocessor that’s stupid, not you right?”

4. Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid scope to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid scope to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the scope that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the scope that’s stupid, not you right?”

5. Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid circuit to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid circuit to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the circuit that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the circuit that’s stupid, not you right?”

6. Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid program to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid program to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the program that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the program that’s stupid, not you right?”

7. Problem Sources Power Miswired Logic or Desgin Component Failure

8. Potential Problems Soldering Wiring Power supply Grounding Connectors Shielding Heat dissipation Equipment Bad com-ponents ESD

9. Plan of Attack K.I.S.S. K.I.S.S. Work Backwards Work Backwards

10. Tools Digital Digital –Logic Analyzer –Serial Debugging Analog Analog –Oscilloscope –Volt Meter –Spectrum Analyzer

11. Prevention: Tangibles Simulations Simulations Modularity Modularity Triple safety Triple safety –Wiring colors (i.e. don’t use 2 reds for both power and ground) –Ground straps for ESD –Circuit protection

12. Prevention: Intangibles Knowledge Knowledge –Part pdfs –Schematics –Pin-outs –Block diagrams Software Software –Keep working revision backups –Frequent testing –Smoke testing/integration Planning Planning