CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

stefuel · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:16 am Post subject:

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Then you can use your volt meter to follow along that 3.3v line and when you come to a cap or ic you can lift the leg on that line and see if the fluctuation goes away. Its tedious work though.

stefuel · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:22 am Post subject:

I came home with a BK Precision model 878 that I was told "should" be able to test in caps circuit but after a brief look at the manual, I can't figure out how to do it. I don't see how it can do ESR.

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 2:56 am Post subject:

Mac, given the choice would you buy a digital or analog ESR meter. I have been reading up on them and some swear by analog meters but others like the digital ones with more features.

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 12:51 pm Post subject:

How to piss off Chip in one easy lesson Laughing

What is it about surface mount aluminum electrolytic capacitors that require every manufacturer to have a different voltage code. They have enough room to list a 3 digit code, why don't they just list the voltage Rolling Eyes

The one I'm looking at has three listings on it

Capacitance = 100
voltage = 10S
lot = 5P8

I've been searching for 30 minutes and can't find code 10S.

While in ranting mode, I read that these general purpose aluminum capacitors have a life expectancy of 2000 hours at 85 degrees. So if these are used on a device that does NOT have a smps and is live 24-7 as long as the device is plugged in, you run up 2000 hours pretty quickly. Rolling Eyes

Or am I reading this wrong???

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject:

I may have been on walkabout when you had your cap class. Can you tell me how long ago that was or link to it?
I'm sure it will make for interesting reading Thumbs Up

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

https://www.curtpalme.com/forum_archived/viewtopic.php@t=18576.html

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject:

Well I got half way through Bible class and lost my internet connection. I'll pick up where I left off as soon as my eyes uncross Laughing

I did make it passed the shelf life and seal condition stuff but not where it concearns what I said about under consistant load like the one on the 3.3v line that is hot 24-7 as long as the unit is plugged in.
I have to go out and mow the grass now. It's starting to look like no one lives here Laughing

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 4:43 pm Post subject:

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject:

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Yeah, those surface mount components you pretty much have to remove completely. I use 2 irons at once.

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

OK, what would happen if I tried this? Assuming we are looking for a unusually high esr value'd cap, what would happen if I fire up the Escient with a audio device connected so that I can listen to the tick and use a radial cap of the same value as the cap I'm testing and briefly jump it out (add a second one in parallel)? Would that not bring the esr down to the correct value. Or at least stop or change the audible tick pointing me to the correct cap?

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Yes you can clip a cap over an installed one for testing.

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject:

Laughing my A$$ off.
I figured out how to make it boot up. I noticed that when I leave it un-plugged for a while and then plug it in that the audible tick is about 4 times a second and if I leave it plugged in long enough to warm up a bit, the tick slows down.
I got no results from jumping out caps on the 3.3v line so I got another Yankee bright idea. Lets warm up the board with a hair drier. Bingo. It booted up. Now I have to figure out a way to only warm up small areas of the board to isolate the problem.

Any ideas about that??? Thumbs Up

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Put a funnel over your ass and......wait, you probably couldn't see what you were doing.... Laughing

Make a funnel out of cardboard and duct tape it to your hair dryer......at least that's what Macgyver would do..... LOL. Very Happy

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:48 pm Post subject:

I have to go for a ride shortly to return that BK LCR meter that I borrowed and pick up something for dinner for the kids.
I'm going to stop at Rat shack and see if they have any of that Coolant spray that you can use for this kind of thing.
I've got it narrowed down to about the size of a baseball where the problem is. There is about six caps and two IC's there .
If I cool off the correct part, the tick will come back.

stefuel · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject:

OK, I know how to get to the bottom of this. I just put two brand new pencils in the freezer to get the eraser ends real cold. Are you thinking what I'm thinking Wink

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 10:22 pm Post subject:

Yes but isn't that illegal in your state? Laughing