How to? Identifying surface-mount componets.

[cactus]

Is there an easy way to identify surface-mount component types & values?

There are a few different sizes, (only the smallest has text), some have colors, some show polarity...

Are there any online documents accessible for my consumption? Any tips?

Thanks a lot! (and I DID search, btw)

 

[OneRoomStudio]

It depends on the component. Usually resistors have the value printed on them, whereas caps don't. Unfortunately there's no easy way to figure out caps. Other components like diodes may have cathode stripes, and some IC's have text while others don't. The only sure-fire way to determine what the unmarked components are is to remove them and measure them out of circuit.

 

[tv]

There are some very small component testers for SMD's. I've seen some go for ~25euro. Don't have links sry, best to look around for one if you are serious.

 

[Ian MacGregor]

I use the BK Precision 886 LCR/ESR meter for measuring surface mount L, R, and Cs.

About half of my consulting business is reverse engineering PCBs for companies that have lost FAB/schematic data. I usually measure all the passives "in-circuit" first in case I damage/lose one while removing it. Then, I remove each passive component, one at a time, and measure.

Compared to the semiconductors, passives are relatively easy. Usually, most small packages (SOT23, SMB, and smaller) will only have one or two letter/numbers for identification. I have gathered a collection of websites that have semiconductor top mark identification lists. Here are a few:

http://www.tkb-4u.com/code/smdcode/indexsmdcode.php
http://www.marsport.org.uk/smd/mainframe.htm
http://www.diodes.com/products/marking_code_xref.pdf