10 Feb
2003
10 Feb
'03
5:42 a.m.
On Feb 10, 10:58, Bryan Pope wrote:
Awhile ago there was a thread about electrolytic
capacitors
popping and
then destroying the motherboard they are on. One of
the ideas was to
replace them before they go.
Now I was wondering about another idea... Would it be okay to
encase
the capacitor in silicone gel? Then when the
capacitor pops, it
wouldn't
spread its electrolyte all over the motherboard.
But would this cause other problems with heat or something?
Would it
further shorten the life of the capacitor?
Well, it's not going to improve its life, and it does mean that when it
goes, it will make a louder bang, since it will be harder for the
electrolyte to get out. Silicone isn't terribly strong, so it won't
stop it. If you look at most electrolytic caps, you'll see they're
designed to come apart under stress without turning into small
grenades; the ends are scored, or the seals are deliberately made less
strong than
the aluminium case.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York