Hi guys...

I've noticed over the years some of my consumer electronic items are
going way beyond what might be considered a normal life span. I've
seen recent threads about bad caps in computers, malfunctioning
microwave displays etc. that make me wonder about component design and
the other things that affect a products life, specifically usage
patterns.

My good example is my JVC model# 3070 a 2-1/2" portable B&W TV. I got
it in 1975. Since I'm nearsighted, I use it to watch late-night TV
while it sits on my night table. The picture is like new and very
sharp, as small b&w CRT's can be. I keep the brightness turned down a
bit to reduce stress on the system. It frequently stays on after I fall
asleep.

So it is on from 2-8 hours a day, nearly every day for 30 years. My
question is, do you think the components are lasting this long because
they are used every day as opposed to infrequent use? What if the same
TV sat in storage for years, rarely used, would the caps fail sooner? I
guess I'll find out, I found the same model on ebay, I'm keeping it in
storage as a backup.

Dennis Harper/Bronxville NY