Help an untrained ear to identify this sound? (unplugging a Hiper Type-R 480W)

[ohren]

Thanks for checking in. The noise was gone, the diodes were mounted according to the symbols on the board, 85 ohms across the diode, and no visible solder bridges, but apparently I suck at soldering. I double checked my "work" and redid one of the joints of the zener and it works!

Because of my great skill and expensive equipment the traces had lifted around the rectifier diode, which didn't really motivate me to keep working on it. I probably wouldn't have if you hadn't made it sound like I was close.

Undecided whether I should ignore the lifted trace and just reassemble the thing.

[sam_sam_sam]

As long as you have a good connection you should be fine just look at the connections with a magnifying glass and make sure that there are no air gaps in joints

If you have an air gap you can sometimes put a small piece of wire from your part to the next through hole part that the trace went to diode

From the Diode to next through hole part on the same trace just make sure that the wire that you add does not touch something that it not suppose to touch

I hope that this will help you

[Agent24]

For lifted pads on "easy" boards, you can usually fix them by just scraping off some solder-mask on the track with a sharp blade (don't push too hard!), bending the component lead over, and soldering it on the whole way. This provides a good mechanical connection as well as electrical.

See the attached photo - (From https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/2040) - NOTE: personally I would bend the lead flush with the board for better mechanical strength than have it looped over like they have.

Good work fixing it

[ohren]

I decided to leave well enough alone, but thanks for the options.

A picture. The zener was a pain to wedge in under the heat sink, but it didn't break.