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Thread ID: 82762 2007-09-07 02:43:00 Conductive Polymer Aluminum Capacitors braindead (1685) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
588749 2007-09-07 02:43:00 Anyone know if these new caps are available in NZ? I need to re-cap a mobo that has developed crap caps. JayCar don't have them (yet).

Many thanks.
braindead (1685)
588750 2007-09-07 22:26:00 Dick Smith Speedy Gonzales (78)
588751 2007-09-07 23:11:00 Thanks - I found everything but conductive polymer caps at DS. :) braindead (1685)
588752 2007-09-08 08:50:00 Plase forgive my ignorance, but. Why does it matter what type of capacitor you use? Thanks PJ :confused: Poppa John (284)
588753 2007-09-08 11:14:00 Several years ago many motherboard manufacturers used capacitors that were faulty. After some time in use, these capacitors would swell and leak, with a brown deposit often visible on top of the cap. When these caps expired, they would frequently take the whole mobo down too.

You can see more in-depth info here: http://www.badcaps.net/

These caps typically have low esr (Equivalent Series Resistance). Ordinary polarised electrolytic caps will not do. PC power supplies are affected too, as they often use these bad caps.

You can see what the polymer caps look like here: http://www.low-esr.com/

Replacement of faulty caps on a mobo is tricky, but possible. When done correctly, the mobo can be given a new lease of life, rather than forking out for a new mobo.

One or two mobo makers went some way to replace faulty boards. Most did not take responsibility and hid behind their warranty, leaving a lot of people out of pocket.

HTH :)
braindead (1685)
588754 2007-09-08 11:22:00 Jaycar have the low ESR caps.
I used them to fix a Pentium 3 based mobo.


Here's my posts about my particular mobo.

www.badcaps.net

pressf1.pcworld.co.nz
bob_doe_nz (92)
588755 2007-09-08 11:32:00 JayCar do have them. I bought 2 lots from them at different times to fix two Soltek mobos, but they changed brands between the first and second lot. One brand is fine, the other crapped out quite quickly.

I'll not be buying anything but conductive polymer aluminum capacitors from now on. No-one in NZ seems to stock them yet. :(
braindead (1685)
588756 2007-09-08 11:38:00 RS Electronics?

Farnell?
bob_doe_nz (92)
588757 2007-09-09 01:54:00 Thanks for the links bob_doe...neither of these suppliers panned out with the cap specs I'm looking for.I'll keep hunting :) braindead (1685)
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