On Mon, 7 Apr 2014, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2014 09:30:39 -0400, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

I've got a couple of IP cams where the same cap failed.

I'll assume these were installed in different locations. Therefore,
it is unlikely that some major power glitch or overload condition
caused the cap to fail. Most likely, all the caps were defective on
arrival. If you have some of the same model IP camera where the cap
hasn't failed yet, you might consider a pre-emptive cap replacement.

It's a 15 uF, 100v radial cap spec'd to 105c.

I would be interested in the brand name or better yet, a photo.

But I'm having fits trying to find a replacement where they don't rape
me on shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321317467092 $3.19 plus $1.00 shipping.

Can I shop for something with slightly different specs?

Yes. However, if the cap is in a circuit that requires an extremely
low ESR, you may have problems with a lower voltage substitute. If
this cap is the output filter for a small switching power supply
inside the camera, I would stay with the 100v rating. Otherwise, feel
free to substitute. However, I doubt that it's in an ESR sensitive
circuit. If low ESR was a requirement, then the ideal cap would have
a much higher capacitance, and a voltage rating as low as possible.

i.e. is 100v just an upper limit beyond which the cap will fail... and I
could replace it with a 200v or 300v cap?

It probably won't fit.

What about uF? Do I use a 20 or 30 uF at my own risk?

That depends on the circuit. If it's in a timing circuit, it's a bad
idea. If it's a power supply bypass, just about anything will work,
unless the designer got clever and used some kind of resonant scheme
to improve the ESR at the switching frequency.

Hint: The quality of the answers depends heavily on the quality of
the information you supply. You left out the maker and model of the
camera, the maker of the capacitor, where in the circuit it's used,
and under what conditions it is failing.

And where he is.

No wonder the question sounded familiar, he's the same guy who was asking
a similar question last week.

Michael