I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on whether it is worth the extra money to use polymer capacitors in place of regular electrolytics? They usually have a longer rated lifetime but are thier characteristics appropriate for anything but power circuits?
Question about capcitors?
- Thread starter Dilandau
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Keep in mind Polymer caps are still electrolytic based and just have a lower ESR. They are basically the standard in all newer electronics. I assume they could replace older electrolytics however I'm not positive if they are infact direct replacements.
Maybe RJ can fill ya in on this since he is more familiar with newer surface mount components.
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Exactly.
The only place for low ESR caps would be a PC motherboard's low voltage regulator section or something similar. For monitors, TVs, and most other things, I wouldn't spend the money.
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I plan to keep my CRT monitors for life.
Also is there any benefit to not having them pulled tight againts the board when you change out caps? I've noticed on some equipment that the mid-size caps sometimes stick up off the board, is that for heat dispersion or just laziness , would I affect anything by pulling them tight?
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The body of the cap should be on the board. If not, and you subject the board to shock then the only thing bearing the weight will possibly detach - the trace it's soldered to.
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What James said. Those caps lasted years in the arcade environment before they started giving up the ghost, powered on over 12 hours a days at least 5 days a week. New caps, hell the whole board will damn near out live you in a collector environment given proper care.
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AND providing that "proper care" also includes periodic inspection of those pesky batteries!
RetroHacker
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I would use regular electrolytics, just be sure to use good quality parts. When I rebuild monitors I use 105 degree rated capacitors. The old ones lasted for 20 years, the new ones should be as good or better. No electrolytic is going to last forever, that's just a fact of life with this sort of capacitor. But buy good quality, high temperature rated ones and they should last a good long while.
-Ian
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ttooddddyy
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Using a higher voltage rated cap (within reason, say a 25 instead of 16 volt, space permitting) will help with heat dissipation due to the larger volume.
Depends on the application wether its worth doing.
Depends on the application wether its worth doing.