What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

[PeterBeal]

Woo! First post on the forum . . .

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, to the issue at hand: For my work I have been tasked to "fix" six aging Intel mobos, five of which had standard 820uF 6.3v caps in a semi-parallel configuration in the VRM (one in series, five in parallel). The sixth board, however, had seven capacitors in series, all 820uF 4v caps. None of them appear to be bulging, but with capacitors, that might not be the telltale sign of a failure.

This is the last mobo I have to re-cap, and instead of ordering new caps (which I cannot find 820uF in the 4v flavor), can I simply replace them with the 6.3v caps I already have?

Thanks!

[Krankshaft]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

Absolutely the voltage is only the caps max working voltage.

In other words the voltage it can handle before breaking down (when the voltage arcs between the plates and the dielectric and destroys the cap).

It can be equal to or higher then the original value.

When dealing with a caps working voltage think of it as the current (amperage) rating of a power supply it can be equal or higher then the load demands.

Most caps won't magically blow up once their voltage is exceeded but they may die prematurely in the future or die instantly if they are extremely abused with over voltages.

As long as the cap fits you will be fine the higher you go up in working voltage (staying with the original capacitance) in most cases the size will increase as well. So you usually don't want to go too high up in voltage.

In your case since the voltage raise is pretty small you should be fine.

[PeterBeal]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

Thanks!

I had a feeling they would be alright, seeing as I can no longer find any 820uF caps in that flavor, and as the voltage rating is (as you said) just the max it can handle.

I still don't understand why these caps are in a different config than the other five boards, since they are all the same board . . . apparently.

[Scenic]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

uhm... 4V 820uF sounds like polymer caps...

quick search found some sanyo os-cons..

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Sanyo-SP-4V-82...742.m153.l1262

[PeterBeal]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

I can guarantee that they weren't polys.

I kind of wish they were, though :/

[willawake]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

they were yellow werent they?

[PeterBeal]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

actually, no. Black and gold, 8mm x 24mm, by the looks of it.

the only distict "model" marking is KZV

[Scenic]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

Nippon ChemiCon KZV ... they were discontinued in 2007. completely replaced by KZG

[370forlife]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

I just had to buy a 4v/820uf OScon for my ibm board after one broke off during shipping.

So, could you replace elecrolytic caps with solid polymers if the voltage and uf match?

[kc8adu]

Re: What can I replace 4v 820uF caps with?

i have never seen that series die.
i did replace some where the board got handled badly and several were bent at a 45.
i used 820@2.5 solid polymers.those are on vcore which should never exceed 2v.