5 Mar
2005
5 Mar
'05
12:41 p.m.
At 02:14 PM 3/5/2005 -0500, you wrote:
(1) there has been much discussion in this list about
capacitors failing. I
recently had a cap on a QIC-24 drive fail with a bit of sound and fury (axial
tantalum). Is there any way to test for this other than desoldering every cap
(at least every electrolytic) and testing it on a cap meter? I don't want to
fry my IMSAI, but there are a lot of caps in there and it would take
forever...
Failed shorted I guess. You can ohm-meter the remaining caps-
Electrolyltics should show a varying resistance over time as the battery in
the ohmmeter charges the cap. Don't try this on a BIG cap. If it shows a
really low resistance that doesn't change, that might be a RBT (really bad
thing).
(2) (flame risk) My Tek 555 popped and blew a fuse when
I had it plugged in
last. I disassembled the PS and cleaned off the dust, and I want to test
it by
itself, but the power-on relay won't close. Any hints, or is this like
amplifiers where the tubes need a load?
Switching power supplies need a load. A Big linear may not. There's
probably some sort of interlock somewhere.
[Philosophy] "For a successful technology, reality must take
precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." --R.
P. Feynman
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