[R-390] Electrolytic troubles cause BIG problems...

[Barry Hauser]

Well, I guess that means we need to start recapping our PC's -- probably
every six months.  (Not made as well as old radios.)  Should we bring 'em up
slow on a variac?

One night at the office, I heard something that sounded like a gunshot.
Couldn't find anything that caused it.  Next day I noticed that one of the
monochrome monitors that was part of a laser printing system was off.  Small
electrolytic had exploded.

Good fortune in getting the data off the drive.  I've used a recovery
service in the past with good results, though pricey.  It usually depends on
whether the drive has to go into the clean room.  If a swapped controller
board is enough to make it go, it's a good deal cheaper.

I didn't think network cards were particularly expensive.  $20 for a
no-name, under $50 for an Intel or similar 10/100 base T in OEM package --
maybe less.

More often, power supply failure mode involves the cheap fans used, at least
that's what we've found.

Barry


Jordan wrote:

> Well it had to happen eventually, and did it EVER...
> On Thursday May 16th, one of the filter caps in my PC power supply blew
> up, and spewed tin foil and electrolyte all over the inside of the power
> supply.
> The resulting voltage spikes, higher unregulated voltages, etc., took
> out the IDE board on my hard drive, the control boards on both the CD
> drive, the CD writer and, the network card I use for my DSL link.
>
<snipped>