Thread: Tants
View Single Post
Old 15th Feb 2018, 10:07 am   #8
MrBungle
Dekatron
 
MrBungle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
Default Re: Tants

I have found when it comes to replacing the little fire breathing dragons, that it's usually good enough these days to replace them with half decent low ESR electrolytic capacitors of about twice the value. Also usually a larger headroom on maximum voltage then. As tantalum capacitor prices shoot up rapidly for higher voltages, manufacturers tended to push them pretty close to the line. In some Tektronix scopes for example, some wonderful individual decided to use 16v caps on the 15v line. I'd be happier with 35v myself. Thanks to Tantalum being a "conflict mineral", prices have risen to ridiculous levels as well so direct replacements aren't always cost effective.

I will say that the new AVX SMD line at least (TAJ) seems to be indestructible. I have tried over-volting (30v across 16v tant in reverse) and they just get hot. No sign of an explosion or fireball. If they're on a board, they just tend to desolder themselves and fall off if the orientation isn't flat!
MrBungle is offline