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I used to fix boards by swapping parts until a capacitor blew up in my face
Back in 2019 I would just shotgun replace any bulging caps and call it a day, no meter checks or anything. Then I had a 450V cap explode on a microwave PSU because I didn't check the ripple current rating on the replacement. These days I actually trace the circuit and measure ESR before touching anything - do you guys still do quick swaps or have you gone full diagnostic mode too?
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avery2191mo ago
Dude. 450V cap exploding right in your face? That's the kind of wake-up call that sticks with you. I bet your ears were ringing for a week after that.
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olivia_moore1mo ago
That hard lesson taught me to always check datasheets before swapping parts, even if it's just a cap swap. I keep a cheap LCR meter on my bench now just to confirm ESR and ripple ratings before soldering anything in. Do you have a go to cap brand you trust for high voltage stuff?
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