Joined
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92 Posts
Inside TiVo's...
HEAT "bakes" the internal parts and electrolytic's 24/7 AND, not all electrolytic failures present 'the bulge'! Some 'leak' (loose efficiency or value) and others may leak wax/chemicals too; most often seen in the bulging "X" on top, or small blobs on a PC board in brown or black.
KNOW the electrolytic's in your TiVo have ALL endured the same environment, heat and age... So IF you see one (or more) 'bulging caps', it's more than reasonable to expect more will soon follow!
In TiVos I think it's safe to say 'caps' and hard drives fail most... So it's best to know the status of ALL electrolytic caps in your TiVo! They are not expensive and as long as you are putting the effort in ~ why not replace them all? And while you are at it, replace your 'button' CMOS Battery too!
SUBSTITUTIONS
If you must substitute a electrolytic, go to the next higher value. Say you need a 10 volt cap but only have 15 volt caps available? That's (generally) perfectly fine. But do not use a lesser 5 volt cap! Say you need a 25ufd but can only find a 35ufd? That too should (generally) be OK too! But I would not use a 15ufd where a 25ufd is needed.
On occasions when the tops finally blow in electronics devices it can be quite a surprise because of the loud "pop" and often paraffin particles can pepper neighbor parts inside.
Our high school electronics instructor demonstrated what happens when a cap is installed backwards in a power supply! Even with the metal top replaced ~ he used safety glasses... He powered the supply and quickly stepped way back!! In there was a three second "hissssSS", a little puff of smoke ~ then "POW" ~ a LOT more smoke bellowed! We students were at least 15 feet away... a lesson we never forgot.
As another OP mentioned elsewhere, be SURE to use "polarity care" as you solder your new caps in! Also mentioned, be very careful about unintended 'solder bridges' to other parts or circuit traces.
SOGLAD
'Boot camp' as promised...
A REAL recruit in our boot camp company asked:
"Mr. Warrick, Sir"? (A salty) "YESZz!??" reply...
"Mr. Warrick, Sir, when we spit-shine our shoes do we spit-shine "all" of our shoes ~ or just the front"??
"NOW WHAT THE HEL* KIND OF QUESTION IZ THAT?!! WHEN YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM DO YOU WIPE HALF OF YO a** OR ALL OF [email protected]!
Enough said.
HEAT "bakes" the internal parts and electrolytic's 24/7 AND, not all electrolytic failures present 'the bulge'! Some 'leak' (loose efficiency or value) and others may leak wax/chemicals too; most often seen in the bulging "X" on top, or small blobs on a PC board in brown or black.
KNOW the electrolytic's in your TiVo have ALL endured the same environment, heat and age... So IF you see one (or more) 'bulging caps', it's more than reasonable to expect more will soon follow!
In TiVos I think it's safe to say 'caps' and hard drives fail most... So it's best to know the status of ALL electrolytic caps in your TiVo! They are not expensive and as long as you are putting the effort in ~ why not replace them all? And while you are at it, replace your 'button' CMOS Battery too!
SUBSTITUTIONS
If you must substitute a electrolytic, go to the next higher value. Say you need a 10 volt cap but only have 15 volt caps available? That's (generally) perfectly fine. But do not use a lesser 5 volt cap! Say you need a 25ufd but can only find a 35ufd? That too should (generally) be OK too! But I would not use a 15ufd where a 25ufd is needed.
On occasions when the tops finally blow in electronics devices it can be quite a surprise because of the loud "pop" and often paraffin particles can pepper neighbor parts inside.
Our high school electronics instructor demonstrated what happens when a cap is installed backwards in a power supply! Even with the metal top replaced ~ he used safety glasses... He powered the supply and quickly stepped way back!! In there was a three second "hissssSS", a little puff of smoke ~ then "POW" ~ a LOT more smoke bellowed! We students were at least 15 feet away... a lesson we never forgot.
As another OP mentioned elsewhere, be SURE to use "polarity care" as you solder your new caps in! Also mentioned, be very careful about unintended 'solder bridges' to other parts or circuit traces.
SOGLAD
'Boot camp' as promised...
A REAL recruit in our boot camp company asked:
"Mr. Warrick, Sir"? (A salty) "YESZz!??" reply...
"Mr. Warrick, Sir, when we spit-shine our shoes do we spit-shine "all" of our shoes ~ or just the front"??
"NOW WHAT THE HEL* KIND OF QUESTION IZ THAT?!! WHEN YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM DO YOU WIPE HALF OF YO a** OR ALL OF [email protected]!
Enough said.
