R-Pro › Field cases › Air conditioning
PCB Inverter Board Burn-out — Capacitor / IPM / Driver Fault
Likely causes
Identify burn area — capacitor, IPM, driver, solder
Check: **Safety first**: unplug and wait 10–15 min → DC bus capacitor must fully discharge (shock/fire risk). **Visual**: ① bulged/leaking capacitors = small capacitor characteristic failure common. ② IPM module burn marks/cracks = DC peak/overcurrent damage. ③ track/solder burn marks/blackening = short evidence. ④ driver IC surface discoloration/cracks. **Self-diagnostic codes**: LG CH21 (IPM Fault/DC Peak), Samsung E458/E459 (inverter compressor IPM overcurrent).
What to do: **Burn severity**: ① **Capacitor only = repair shop possible** (KRW 10–50k, same μF/V OEM). ② **IPM module short = whole PCB replacement** (no separate IPM part). ③ **Multiple parts burned/tracks cut = whole PCB**. ④ **Old model parts unavailable = specialized PCB repair shop** (Seoul Yongsan/Cheonggyecheon district). **Main + inverter PCB combo = KRW 250–400k+**. R-32 new PCBs have A2L safety circuits — cannot substitute with old R-410A PCBs (incompatible).
**Field trick**: 80%+ of PCB burns are small capacitor failures or IPM shorts. Repair shop = 1/3–1/2 the price of new OEM PCB, but no warranty. Korea = 30–50 specialty PCB repair shops in Seoul Yongsan/Cheonggyecheon. **1 week after season start** = inverter board failures spike (capacitors don't recover characteristics after 8-month dormancy). Educate user: 1-hour test run before full operation at new season.
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