On 1/6/2011 9:42 AM, Jeffrey Angus wrote:
On 1/6/2011 10:36 AM, N_Cook wrote:
D wrote:
E.g., I've been recommending disposing of machines
with this problem. The labor to re-cap just doesn't
make sense given the book value of machines that
exhibit these problems -- especially in light of
the fact that you can't be sure that the "repaired"
machine is really "100%" (maybe OK for a machine you
use informally at home, but would you want to *rely*
on it in a commercial environment?).

I suspect most machines are just recapped and re-used
but wanted confirmation or repudiation of that opinion.

And what percentage of times do you introduce new problems of disrupted
multi-layer board traces/vias in the act of desoldering/soldering caps ?

Well obviously, using something a bit more suitable
than a Weller soldering gun to do the re-cap helps.

But yeah, I did mine, because I bought a pair of
dells with the cap-itis problems for $50. With $25
worth of caps they're good as new.

Would I do this for a commercial customer? No, I'd
give him $25 for the old machine and have him buy a
new one.

Assuming the old one is *worth* $25... :

Then fix his old one for myself. ;-)

That's my point. If it's something you are going to
use yourself it's a different case -- if you later
see it "acting up", you can shrug your shoulders and
give it the old "heave-ho". OTOH, you wouldn't want to
"do your books" on it... :-/

But, the question still stands: did you *examine*
what was actually happening on the board or just
"blindly" replace all the caps and hope for the best?