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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets. |
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29th Jan 2019, 8:22 pm | #21 |
Hexode
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 419
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Re: Components that underachieved.
I guess for completeness we must add the AF11x series.
Although not all bad news when I consider the sets I obtained at jumble sales and boot sales years back thrown out as "Not Working" Pete |
29th Jan 2019, 8:27 pm | #22 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 2,015
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Another vote for Tantalum capacitors - I think of the solid variety but I can stand correction.
My Pye Whitehall W20AM/FM did many years of sterling service in the back of my car. The car was T-boned and written off in 2014. I got the Whitehall out but since then it has sat dormant for 4-5 years. On the first turn on, a week ago, it emitted a vast cloud of very smelly smoke from a cremating 22uF Tant (one of two in parallel). Meanwhile it's parallel mate survived untouched. Now I look around I can see other Tant smoke bombs which have gone off inside while it was under the car seat and I knew nothing about them. Horrors! Last edited by Jon_G4MDC; 29th Jan 2019 at 8:47 pm. |
29th Jan 2019, 9:32 pm | #23 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Components that underachieved.
In the transistor world as well as whiskery AF11x series I'd nominate the fragile AD161/162 complementary Germanium pair. They were ubiquitous in 1970s/early-1980s cheap unit-audio and car stereo radio/cassette-players and had an innate tendency to thermal-runaway, specially if installed where the air-circulation to the back of the equipment was poor and the owner liked his music TURNED UP TO ELEVEN!!!
I replaced plenty of these back in my student-days. A good source of 'beer-money' for me! |
29th Mar 2019, 4:29 pm | #24 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,102
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
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29th Mar 2019, 5:16 pm | #25 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,198
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
There many are robust mixing consoles in studios around the world built on the ISEP system: the extruded rails are usually mounted between profiled vertical aluminium 'end cheeks', making a very stiff structure to carry the various plug-in channel strip modules, faders, and their respective back connectors. Surprisingly, ISEP components are still available. See https://www.srs-products.co.uk/the-isep-range/ . I guess there's still a legacy demand for building and rebuilding ISEP-based equipment. Martin
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29th Mar 2019, 8:43 pm | #26 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,102
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Re: Components that underachieved.
The ISEP sockets look particularly useful
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31st Mar 2019, 7:16 am | #27 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 2,296
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
I still have some new old stock "tants", anyone? Peter |
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2nd Apr 2019, 10:19 am | #28 |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 246
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Surprised no ones mentioned "Rifa capacitors" (gets my vote).
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2nd Apr 2019, 11:08 am | #29 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Yep, RIFA smoke bombs, and the TDA2020 audio IC's used in B&O TVs too.
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3rd Apr 2019, 12:33 am | #30 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Haarlem, Netherlands
Posts: 4,199
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Re: Components that underachieved.
RIFA paper caps are not really a component but a running gag in my opinion For all we know, their sales team made (and won) a bet with the WIMA sales team who could convince most customers to buy these craps.
Last edited by Maarten; 3rd Apr 2019 at 1:02 am. |
3rd Apr 2019, 7:41 am | #31 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Portland, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 874
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
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3rd Apr 2019, 11:56 am | #32 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
Another disappointing cap is the surface-mount electrolytics that came in around the early '90s. They almost universally leak after >15 years and eat away their pads/tracks to make replacement all the more difficult. |
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3rd Apr 2019, 12:37 pm | #33 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Quote:
Another underachieving component: first-generation LCDs from the 80s/early-90s which inevitably develop black staining and/or have segments become unreadable. Particularly annoying when it happens on top-spec communications-receivers or test-gear. |
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3rd Apr 2019, 12:51 pm | #34 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Components that underachieved.
Funny you mention LCDs, as the worst example of SMD cap leakage I've seen has been on the main board of a VA0 Sega Game Gear, the first (commercially successful at least, the Atari Lynx was true first) full colour LCD handheld games system, the screens of both the above being notorious for failed bonding, failed driver chips (embedded on the flat-flex) and dead pixels.
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