🔌 A Simple Checklist I Use When Diagnosing Power Issues in Medical Devices
Posted on December 2, 2025 • 2 minutes • 218 words
Table of contents
Power Issues in Medical Devices: A Simple Troubleshooting Checklist
Power issues in medical devices can look scary at first, but most of the time the cause is something simple. Over time, following a clear checklist has saved me a lot of stress (and unnecessary disassembly).
Here’s the routine that works for me:
1. Check the Power Source First 🔍
Outlet, breaker, power strip… you’d be surprised how often the problem is outside the device.
2. Inspect the Power Cable and Connectors 🔄
Look for worn insulation, bent pins, loose connectors, or any mechanical stress. Cables are silent troublemakers.
3. Never Forget the Fuses ⚡
Seriously. A tiny fuse can save you a very long day. Internal protection circuits fail quietly, but they’re quick to test.
4. Measure the Incoming Voltage 📏
Make sure the device gets the correct voltage under load. Voltage fluctuations can pretend to be “internal faults.”
5. Move to the Power Supply Module 🛠️
If everything else checks out, only then look into capacitors, regulators, or board-level issues.
6. Check the Earth Connection Quality 🌍
Phase-to-ground should match phase-to-neutral. A weak earth connection creates bizarre symptoms that look like device failures.
A simple, consistent workflow like this keeps troubleshooting efficient and avoids guesswork. In clinical environments where downtime matters, small steps make a big difference.