cbmeeks wrote:
Also, with electrolytic's, I believe the electrolyte can dry up...reducing the capacitance. So, it may not be leaking...or even bulging....but the capacitance is affected. Which brings it closer to a sudden failure. And, you cannot know that without a proper ESR reading.
The capacitor question is simpler than you might suppose. Yes, dried electrolyte can reduce capacitance but that's not likely to cause a sudden failure. As for ESR, if you have an actual symptom -- ie, the machine is misbehaving -- then one way to test ESR is to temporarily install a new cap in parallel with the original. If the symptom disappears then you know. Alternatively, skilled use of an oscilloscope will give an indication as to whether the cap is doing its job. (These remarks apply also apply to reduced capacitance too, not just to excessive ESR).
crassbe wrote:
The capacitors on the board are not known to be a problem and you shouldn't change them before your board is running. Otherwise you might include more faults than you fixed in the first place
Good advice, IMO!
-- Jeff
PS:
crassbe wrote:
There are no tantalums on the Amiga 2000 PCB. Just ceramics and electrolytics.
In common usage, an "electrolytic" cap is often understood to mean an aluminum type electrolytic. But this is misleading, as tantalum caps are actually electrolytic, too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalum_capacitor
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