How ironic as the IET celebrates 150 years of engineering expertise that I sit surrounded by expensive electronic devices where changing the battery – or anything else – is something not even a repair specialist would attempt. The device is likely to be destroyed in the process. Note the comments on repairability in the Teardown article on a fitness watch in a recent issue of E&T, for example. I am afraid to say, dear engineers, that you are falling down on the job here.
Take motor vehicle lighting. For many years we had the simple pleasure of changing defective light bulbs. But read your car handbook now and it will tell you: “If your car is fitted with LED lighting you will need to consult your dealer as the unit will need to be replaced.” Manufacturers should add “and screw the environment”, but strangely they don’t.
My neighbour, who has a Jaguar, had a rear indicator failure. The cost of a tail-light unit is in excess...