Prophylactic replacement of electrolytic capacitors? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

14 Jan 2002

On Jan 14,  9:39, Gary Hildebrand wrote:
...
  IMHO, it depends mostly on who made the electrolytics.
 I have large
 "computer grade" electrolytics from the 60's, salvaged from Ampex
VTR's
 that are still 100%, and have never failed in over 30 years. 
Not unusual...

...
  OTOH, the cheap electrolytics found in consumer grade
electronics seem
 to dry out and fail on a yeary or biannual basis.  One of the worst
 failure rates I've seen is the teeny tiny 160VDC electrolytics; I just
 replace then no matter what and usually that cures the problems. 
...and also not unusual.  I've seen a batch of Pentium motherboards that
had a stack of small cheap electrolytics right beside/under the Slot1
processor -- and all dried out and failed within a few months.

...
  The best way to check those #$%#$%^# caps is to use an
ESR meter.  And
 only then should yo buckshot them.  And replace them with good grade
 Spraggue or CDE if possible.  I've had mixed to poor resutls with
 Nichion, or other cheap Japanese caps sold by MCM Electronics.

 Gary Hildebrand

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York