About Capacitor Replacement
Thank you Jestine Yong for your repair articles. I have used parts of some of the techniques in my own repairs. Now I would like to share 2 small tips which I believe have saved me call backs and subsequent failures.
#1 When testing electrolytic capacitors for any reason I ALWAYS replace them if they are 85deg C rated with 105deg C rated. Heat is the enemy of electrolytic capacitors and the 105deg C ones are designed better to withstand heat. (Often the labor to lift one leg to test is almost the same as replacement.) I buy common values in bulk.
#2 When replacing electrolytic capacitors, especially those in filtering applications I use the same capacitance at a somewhat higher voltage rating if I have replacement parts that will fit physically. Don’t rely on the circuit designer to select a part which is rated for long life. Most often the criteria is cost. In repairing the criteria always should be a long lasting repair.
George Persico
Thiells NY USA
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reychie canonigo
October 23, 2013 at 11:21 pm
thanks a lot sir yong
Jestine Yong
October 24, 2013 at 10:10 am
Hi Reychie,
You are welcome!
Jestine
moniem
October 24, 2013 at 3:54 pm
HI YOUNG
HAVE A GOOD DAY
shall I replaced any capacitor with bigger capacity
Jestine Yong
October 24, 2013 at 9:09 pm
H Moniem,
It depends on the problem. If the cap always have problem after couple of months you need to replace one that has higher voltage, temperature and also the capacitance (if you wanted to)
Jestine
MusicMan777
December 8, 2013 at 4:10 am
Agreed...Heat is #1 cause of Electronic component failure in general.
Any electronics exposed to constant environmental heat should be especially suspect (Car Stereo/Audio/CD players/Power amplifiers).
Capacitor failure is often a result of a dried out electrolye in the capacitor causing the plates to short. It isn't uncommon for the interior temperature of most vehicles to exceed 125F (51C) when sitting in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Jestine Yong
December 8, 2013 at 9:04 am
Hi Musicman,
Thanks for the comment.
Jestine
Mohammed Kasim C M
October 24, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Like it.........
Robert
October 30, 2013 at 7:02 am
I did a test on a Whirlpool washing machine. I pulled a 105 cap and substituted it with a 85 degree cap. It worked just fine for a month. The main bearing went out and we got rid of it so I don't know how long it would've lasted. Of course I removed all of the PC boards and kept them for parts and also the pumps.
I agree with you however that the 105's should last longer. All the new caps that I buy will be 105's.
Thanks for the article George.
Amir Mukhtar
February 6, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Thanks you Mr. Persico for knowledge and good advise.
How ever, I also would suggest that Capacitors can be replaced with close match but some Area of electronics circuit may be disturbed or not working properly after close match replacement because of micro farads (uf) ratings, like communication areas of circuit in PCB.
thanks you
Amir Mukhtar Ashrafi
George Nutzul
February 4, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Thanks for sharing, George...
I agree 100%... I always replace E-caps with 100 Deg. C caps, with a slightly higher working voltage than the original for a longer life.
Not only do manufacturers try to save money by using parts that are just "good enough". They PLAN for parts to fail a few years after the warranty ends. Its called "Planned Obsoleteness". It keeps their factories producing new replacement products.
I also try to replace with caps rated "Computer Grade", or graded for use in SMPS supplies.
George Nutzul
West Hurley, NY USA