23 Feb
2009
23 Feb
'09
10:56 a.m.
Will writes:
So even though I was one of the first people on this
list
to suggest reforming old capacitors, I have basically
completely reversed my view
on the issue. Now, if the machine is not super old, I will
just pretty much plug in the machine and let it power up.
Even if something does fail, most of the machines I
deal with have enough built in protection
that they will just shut down safely.
Some of us do the opposite of using a variac to reform
caps - we use a variac to stress-test the components
at above the rated voltage.
If they blow up now, that's better than them blowing
up later.
We always called this "margining".
I suppose it depends on attitude. To some people a KA630 in
a BA123 is a holy shrine to be babied all the way back to
restoration. Which I find odd, because there isn't that much
that's actually restorable. I mean, 20 years ago I was fixing
rubber bumpers in RD53, but who today wants to go through
that much work for 70 Mbytes of really slow storage? Maybe
I just hate all those stupid MFM drives too much.
Tim.