Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBungle
If there was one across both rails that sounds like a design flaw.
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(EAI1000 Analogue computer). I agree. There are several tantalum capacitors connected between the +8V and -8V rails (these being the supply to the op-amps, etc in the unit), not from a supply rail to ground. I don't like it. That machine is a mixture of some very good design (like some of the precision analogue parts) and some very poor design (the so-called edge connector for one of the option boards was just bit of bent spring wire that never made proper contact). Looks like the thing was built to a price, alas.
As a result I replaced all the tantalum capacitors I could find on all PCBs. When the supply rails get shorted together it tends to end up with one of them at the wrong polarity wrt ground which is not good. ICs that use both supply rails and have a ground connection may get damaged by this.