Mac SE/30 making zipping and buzzing noises

[Jules Richardson]

On 03/21/2015 01:00 AM, Marc Verdiell wrote:
> A classic case of Mac SE leaking electrolytic caps.

Does anyone know why Apple machines of that era (including GSes and even 
late IIe machines) seem to have a reputation for this? I've never seen it 
in systems from other manufacturers - obviously there are cases of caps 
going high-ESR or with bulging (and sometimes even split) tops, but I've 
never seen one puke its guts all over the PCB.

None of my Apple hardware seems to be affected (or at least, wasn't the 
last time I had cases open), but I hear enough reports of it that it seems 
to be quite common.

If it was a problem with a specific machine I'd think it was a design issue 
- heat build-up, maybe, or working at close to voltage limit, but it seems 
to hit several different products. My guess is that Apple just used a 
particular supplier that few other makers did, and those caps happen to be 
prone to age-related failure?

cheers

Jules