On Thu, 9 Jun 2016, Ian Field wrote:



"Micky" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:32:39 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
wrote:

On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:05:53 -0400, Micky
wrote:

Well this thing is pretty old. 8 years at least but I can't remember
where I bought it. Maybe it was used. D-link DI-524

Garbage. I had nothing but problems with that vintage D-Link hardware
due to line glitches. The stock 5V 2.5A JTA0302B power supply is a
known headache. They tend to last about 3-5 years before the
capacitors bulge.

Yeah, now I r emember that we talked about capacitors (on electonics
repair) the last time, and I cracked it open and looked, but I didnt'
seen any that looked swollen. Maybe I just don't know how to look.

Electrolytics don't always bulge - sometimes they get hot and expel
electrolyte past the rubber bung, when they cool, a vacuum forms and
sometimes makes the top slightly concave.

If you remove them - the dead ones usually feel lighter than they should.

The usual problem is ESR - high internal resistance, this causes losses when
filtering the output from an SMPSU. Those losses translate into heat that you
can feel - but watch out; electrolytics on the primary side of an SMPSU can
have live cans!

But it's more likely that the electrolytics on the secondary are the
problem. Those run at much higher frequencies than 60 or 50Hz from the
line, which makes them more vulnerable.

Michael


You could always buy an ESR meter - but the good ones aren't cheap.

Some types of combined continuity/voltage testers with 2 LED indication can
give a near enough test - one LED "kicks" as the capacitor charges when you
press the button, the other LED "kicks" on discharge as you release the
button. It takes experience to read how fast or slow the LEDs fade, but I got
away with such a tester for years.