Mechanic's Stehoscope work with electronics? Recommend any?

[fleabag]

I'm looking to buy a stethoscope for working on a car but I've found that with electronics, figuring out where the buzzing is coming from is difficult as well and I was thinking that I could get a mechanic's stethoscope and use it for diagnosing buzzing electronics and working on a car as well. Are there any stehoscopes you guys recommend for these kinds of purposes? Does price matter? I mean I've heard of some people just using a pipe to their ear but I'd have to imagine there are reasons for going with a stethoscope.

 

[Analog]

I've never seen one used in that manner. Buzzing is not always a good indicator of a problem. Have you ever used freeze spray or a signal tracer?

 

[boomerang]

A mechanics stethoscope works through physical contact. Is that always feasible for diagnosing electronics? Practical?

I have a mechanics stethoscope that I bought because the probe is far longer and thinner than a pipe or long screwdriver. Easier to reach into tight spaces and isolate noises with just the tip.

 

[Colt45]

If you've got a rough idea of how the circuit works, you should be able to figure out where the buzzing is coming from... no?

 

[Paperdoc]

I'd be very cautious about using a device with a long metal probe on live electrical components, especially when it ends up carrying the sound to a pair of tubes stuck into ears on the opposite sides of your head. Depends on how conductive the stethescope ear tubes are, and what the circuit voltages are, but images of Frankenstein's monster flash through my mind (sorry about that pun)!

Might be better to fit a rigid rod with limited electrical conductivity, but reasonable sound conduction, to a small microphone and feed that into a small audio amp. That technology would even be consistent khama with the electronics shop where it's used!

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Analog
I've never seen one used in that manner. Buzzing is not always a good indicator of a problem. Have you ever used freeze spray or a signal tracer?

Do they have stethoscopes for electronics or would I just use a doctor's stethoscope?