24 Apr
2011
24 Apr
'11
12:51 p.m.
On 24 Apr 2011 at 12:04, Ian King wrote:
Industry studies (work by Cornell Dublier) show that
aluminum
electrolytic capacitors have a limited life span. (The most common
failure mode is not drying out, it is elevated ESR.) Then there have
been the various scandals about substandard components.
I'd also add, at least in the case of consumer devices, crappy
designs leading to operation at elevated temperatures. I can show
you units where electrolytics are hot-glued to heat sinks. Inverters
and power supplies for LCD monitors are some of the worst examples.
And then there's the sealed DC "wall wart" power supply.
--Chuck