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Illicit Leaky Capacitors Killing Motherboards

Posted by chrisd on from the plans-out-the-back-door dept.

mcd7756 writes "The IEEE Spectrum magazine has an article about how capacitors made with a stolen formula for the electrolyte are leaking and causing motherboards to fail. Some computer manufacturers are admitting to the problem; others are hiding it."

3 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Unreliable anyway by BenjyD · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From the article:

    "Zogbi cites tests by Japanese manufacturers that indicate the capacitor's lifetimes are half or less of the 4000 hours of continuous ripple current they are rated for."

    4000 hours for the good capacitors? That's like 6 months of continuous usage. Surely shome mistake?

  2. Re:Screw home PCs, what else are these components by ozbird · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The batch of SunRay 1 terminals (first generation?) that Sun recalled due to a power supply problem have the faulty capacitors. They were the same brand of capacitors as some dual-CPU MSI motherboards we had that died.

    At the time, I also wondered what other devices may have these faulty aluminium electrolytic capacitors, but it appears the answer is not many; probably due to their cost, they seem to be restricted to high frequency switched mode power supplies.

  3. Low-ESR capacitors by 43tom · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is old news! (Sep. 2002) I submitted this to /. some time ago, but it was rejected...WTF?
    Links to original (and informative) articles are Faulty capacitors and Passive Component Industry report.

    In fairness most of the products affected carry a "Made in Tiawan" warning!