[sdiy] Why Electrolytics?

[Gene Stopp]

> Tantalum capacitors can be substituted for the smaller values, but these
tend to spontaneously short out.

Yes they do. From my personal collection of machines that have collapsed due
to "capacitive arrest":

Moog Taurus I pedals
Sequential 700 Programmer
ARP Omni
Moog Polymoog

All have fully recovered except for the Omni which made a better organ donor
than musical instrument. Ha, organ donor, I made a pun :)

And then there was the Multimoog that had one of the heated 3046's go bad,
but that's another story...


Best Regards,

- Gene


-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Patchell [mailto:patchell at silcom.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 3:19 PM
To: Cynthia Webster
Cc: Diy
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Why Electrolytics?


    Electrolytics pack more capacitance per cubic inch at a lower price
than just about anything else.  And while the "horror" stories related
here sound ominous, it is probably not quite as bad as stated, however,
being forewarned is being prepared.  There are other alternatives, but
they all have their problems.  Tantalum capacitors can be substituted
for the smaller values, but these tend to spontaneously short out.  In
many ways, electrolytics are really the best choice for what they
do...as pointed out, heat is the number one enemy.

    -Jim

Cynthia Webster wrote:

> With all these age related failures
> is there any reason to ever use Electrolytics?
>
> Is there a more bullet proof equivalent capacitor to use instead?
>
> Cynthia