New subject: Interesting to see...PDP-8/e

16 Feb 2004

Hi
 The problem is that they are the best for some applications.
The board space to use electrolytics is prohibitive. Even
electrolytics can be an issue. There was the formula snafu
a couple years ago for the electrolyte.
 I always replace old tantalums with similar looking ones.
I just expect them to fail and don't otherwise worry about it.
Most regulators can handle a few minutes of short.
Dwight

...
 From: msokolov(a)ivan.harhan.org

So here is my question then: if not tantalum, then what?

I've always been told that aluminum electrolytic caps were cheap stuff that
doesn't last and that tantalum caps are much better and (that was the claim)
eternal.  So I guess this is wrong.  What is the truth then?  Is it the other
way around?  Or are they both bad?  And why are so many people, including on
this list, saying "aluminum electrolytics are cheap crap, use tantalum"?

And what are the *good* caps to use?

MS

Smoke on the Horizon... oh s**t!