A bodge wire is defined as a "wire added to a PCB to fix errors in the layout or broken traces." The first is as a result of a design fault while the second arises from mistakes made in maintenance of an existing PCB.
Bodge wires don't introduce new functionality, they only restore intended functionality. Therefore they should be as unobtrusive as possible.
When restoring an old computer, bodge wires are frequently necessary to fix traces which have broken due to excessive heat during the desoldering of defective parts for replacement, most often ICs and IC sockets.
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| Bodge wires |
When a trace lifts or breaks, I mark the PCB on the top-side with Tipp-Ex as a reminder that a bodge will be necessary sometime in the future. The bodge is then later made on the bottom-side of the board, to keep things tidy.
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| Bodges required! |
It can be useful to differentiate bodge wires from wires adding functionality by colour, or adding functional wires to the top-side of the board.
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| Kynar wire, Wire stripper and Magnifier |
Essential tools for this are 30 AWG Kynar wire, a Wire Stripper and Eye magnification of some kind. Care is needed to ensure that the correct joints on the bottom-side are actually the correct ones. Check your work with a continuity tester!
Some useful additional tips in the EEVblog.
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