Hello,
My board fried when my 9 year old brother plugged Ground into positive. Is there anything I can do to get a replacement board? I know this is not your fault, it is just the way science and electricity work.
Thanks for your time,
Cake12356
Would the bread-board I had it hooked up to be fried as well?
Hi cake. These are just "regular user" forums. We can't help you get a new board, but we can perhaps help you understand what got fried.
Which +ive got grounded, was it the +5 volts? Also, what was powering the board at the time. Was it USB from the computer or from an external power supply?
5v and external
Cake12356:
5v and external
Yeah there are still a lot of possibilities. Let me be sure on the PS configuration.
So it was external (plugpack) to Vin and ground (all correctly connected) and then your bro plugged a wire from ground to +5. Is that correct?
Or was it some other scenario like a direct connection to gnd and +5 and your brother reversed them?
He plugged ground into 5v on a breadboard
Cake12356:
He plugged ground into 5v on a breadboard
Well my first thought was the linear regulator, but most of those are really well protected so it should have survived that. Have you tested that the power supply itself is still ok?
Power is fine built in LED still lights
Do you have a multimeter ?
No I do not
Ah , sort of makes things difficult.
You could check the power supply y plugging it into something else i suppose.
Does the arduino still work when connected via USB cable alone.
The LED may just mean it is plugged in , not necessarily working.
It does work with USB but when I plug it in it stinks
I am just going to get a new board, the power capacitor exploded
Hey Cake,
This is what they call the "school of hard knocks". Stinks on powering up are what they are talking about when they say "don't let the smoke out!" But don't throw your board away! It will probably still work if you connect it to 5V directly, or you may become skilled enough to replace the blown capacitor.
When you buy another board, maybe get two of them, or don't let your brother use it.
I got two of them for $12.11 so I will let him use one, and teach him, and I will use one
Cake12356:
I got two of them for $12.11 so I will let him use one, and teach him, and I will use one
You have a 9 year old brother and you let him play with your stuff ?
Shock horror. 
I do not let mine in my tree house , missus is banned from my man cave as well.
Perfect!