Replacing Caps, yes or no....I don't want to doubt anymore !

[level42]

Indeed, and yesterday I got a confirmation from both the UK (Peak Atlas version) and Russia that the units have been sent ...... :S

I had sent an e-mail only an hour or so to Peak to cancel the order but due to the holidays they missed it...
I'll have to send it back to them to get a refund....O well...my mistake for being impatient. And the difference in price between the Russian and UK unit is still big enough to send it back....

A bit of a shame, it would have been fun to do a 1:1 compare between the two and write a "review"....
But I'll have to send it back unopened.

That is, unless someone wants to buy the Peak Atlas version from me ?

[Superully]

A bit of a shame, it would have been fun to do a 1:1 compare between the two and write a "review"....
But I'll have to send it back unopened.

unopened? the box or the package the thing is in? i'd try opening it up carefully, test it and put it back in - that's what i often do

[level42]

Mmm, don't want to take any risks. I want the over 100 Euro back....

[baritonomarchetto]

That ESR meter is nice because of the possibility to measure ESR without the need to remove the caps. Being a little too expensive for me (more than 100 euros if you add taxes and shipping costs) i bought a little circuit that allows the measure of the loss current from the caps. attached is the scheme (taken from http://www.microst.it/tutorial/cond_elettro_4.htm)

Pros:

- it's very cheap and easy to build up
- it tests the cap under voltage (an "actual" condition)

Cons:

- you need a voltage generator able to work close to the working voltage of the cap
- it works out of the circuit

It works for me (even if, i must say, that i use that circuit only to check used but recent caps to see if they have losses: if they are 20+ years old i replace them anyway  )

[level42]

The Russian one is only about 50 Euro's (75 US dollars to be precise, so it depends a bit on the exchange rate) INCLUDING world-wide shipping. That's the great thing that you pay it in dollars, makes it WAY much cheaper for us

Really think the ease of it is worth that amount. Although your set-up may work (still doubt it gives the same results as a micro-proccesor controlled 100 kHz frequency check) it does seem to be a bit clumsy...

Still waiting for both units by the way. Hadn't expected the Russion one arrive yet, but the UK one could have made it. I figure I'll receive that one on tuesday.

[baritonomarchetto]

Yea, i am curios to see how do they work. I also read on the net the ESR measure is not suffcient to determine a cap is good or not: please, when you will have them, try a measurement on a surely bad cap and report the ESR  

The idea i have on those little bastards is that one measure (ESR or loss current or capacity with a cap meter) is not sufficient, but all the three should be taken toghether

[level42]

I also read on the net the ESR measure is not suffcient to determine a cap is good or not:

Got a link, I'd like to read that.

Actually, I think most caps I've replaced so far were either not totally bad....except for the "fold-over" cap on the Sanyo in my Nintendo cab....but I don't think I've got that one still here

[polaris]

The Russian one is only about 50 Euro's (75 US dollars to be precise, so it depends a bit on the exchange rate) INCLUDING world-wide shipping. That's the great thing that you pay it in dollars, makes it WAY much cheaper for us

Really think the ease of it is worth that amount. Although your set-up may work (still doubt it gives the same results as a micro-proccesor controlled 100 kHz frequency check) it does seem to be a bit clumsy...

Still waiting for both units by the way. Hadn't expected the Russion one arrive yet, but the UK one could have made it. I figure I'll receive that one on tuesday.

We've had so many bank holidays recently the post is taking ages

[level42]

The UK one is waiting at the post office for me since two days...but as mentioned I'll simply refuse it so it will be sent back

The Russia one they tried to deliver yesterday but no-one was home and they'll try again today, obviously at least they want a signature....I do hope that doesn't mean I'll need to pay import duties, I totally forgot to ask about that....

[level42]

The Russian one has arrived !

No added taxes luckily!

First quick impressions: looks professional, excellent quality test-leads, very light-weight (due to button-cell batteries).

Did some first test runs on the caps I had removed from the G05-802 in my Asterock and on some brand new caps from a Bob Roberts kit.

Some surprising (well actually not really) results but I will post a video and some extensive measuring reports ASAP (could be sunday though )

[Q*ris]

I will post a video and some extensive measuring reports ASAP (could be sunday though )

Great, thanks for that André!
I'm sure after watching this I will simply jump of my chair and say out loud "I know caps measuring", matrix style.

[baritonomarchetto]

[OT]

Andrè, up to my head i dont remember which is, and the capacitance value, of the cap in Sanyo monitors that cause foldover... (i am going to order some good cap from RS and i wanna insert a spare couple of those caps for my monitors)

ANSWER TO SELF: C407, 10uF 160V 

[/OT]

What is the situation with your testing?  

[level42]

Sorry, somehow I didn't see your posting Bari....

Indeed C407 or C408 on the really old Sanyo's.

I did some testing on an AR-2 board with some interesting results and I also compared an OLD and a NEW Big Blue and also these results are interesting...

Hope to make the video tonight !!

[Etienne MacGyver]

now i am curious too 

[level42]

heheheh......Building up the tension