5 Nov
2002
5 Nov
'02
8:07 a.m.
Hi,
Brian Chase <vaxzilla(a)jarai.org> said:
Someone passed this along to me today. It's a
current news item, but I
though it at least tangentially relevant to classiccmp folks. You'll
get a bang out of this one--quite literally:
-> In September 2002, reports started to surface in the United States
-> among brand name computer manufacturers that there were problems
-> with low-ESR aluminum capacitors produced in Taiwan. Apparently, a
-> poor-quality, water-based electrolyte had been supplied to multiple
-> manufacturers of low-ESR aluminum electrolytic capacitors in
-> Taiwan. Our intelligence sources in Taiwan later confirmed that as
-> many as eleven manufacturers of low-ESR aluminum capacitors in
-> Taiwan might have been exposed to the poor electrolyte.
[snip]
ObClassicCmp: What are the expected lifespans of various capacitor
types? I don't have any truly ancient systems, but some of them are
coming up on the 20 yr mark. When should I look into replacing the
old caps?
This is a well known problem among TV repairmen (my brother is one).
Early failure of electroytics is becoming increasingly common. I've
had to replace about half of them in my vcr power supply and it's only
5 years old! OTOH I'm using a 40-year old radio where they are still
in good order...
Early tantalums are another problem area. If one goes, replace them
all.
--
Cheers,
Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com
The future was never like this!