Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

[Hunt]

Not been on this forum for a while; I am still using a ViewSonic VX922 that you people helped me repair

I've just noticed the length of the Samsung Syncmaster 225BW thread https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...d=1#post215741 !

The above tread is enormous! Does this mean the bad cap problem is getting worse?

[PlainBill]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

Not been on this forum for a while; I am still using a ViewSonic VX922 that you people helped me repair

I've just noticed the length of the Samsung Syncmaster 225BW thread https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...d=1#post215741 !

The above tread is enormous! Does this mean the bad cap problem is getting worse?

The question is ambiguous. There are two interpretations.

1. "Are capacitors less reliable than those manufactured 5 or 10 years ago?" I would say no, quality caps are more available and of better quality than they were 5 and 10 years ago.

2. "Are more items failing due to bad capacitors?" I would say Yes. The endurance of a cap is a function of it's hours under stress. When a TV or monitor is in standby the actual power dissipation is quite low, and the caps are under very little stress. As 'power on hours' increases reliability problems will show up. Or as I should have expressed it - "The monitor that is on 24 hours a day will fail due to bad caps at an earlier date than the one that is on only 8 hours a day." We are now getting into the monitors which were seeing less use per day.

In addition, we are also seeing monitors that are failing due to other causes than bad capacitors.

PlainBill

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

And #3.
While better caps are available, they are using worse caps more often.
.

[PlainBill]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

And #3.
While better caps are available, they are using worse caps more often.
.

True. But at 5:22 I can't count that far.

PlainBill

[mariushm]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

In an ideal world, as polymer capacitors get cheaper and more ranges available, we should see less issues related to capacitors as companies replace the regular electrolytics with polymers. As far as I see, they're more reliable.

They're still more expensive even when buying in volume and I know there are some cases where you just can't use them...

However, it sort of looks like more companies go the planned obsolence route and design their devices in such ways that guarantee at some point their devices fail after a while.

I'm seeing a lot of devices which have general purpose or 85c rated capacitors near heatsinks, I'm seeing undersized heatsinks, too little or excessive thermal paste applied (which is bad) and I really doubt all this is to save a dollar or so on a 100-150$ device, but rather to guarantee the device will die within a couple of years.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

True. But at 5:22 I can't count that far.

PlainBill

I have to.
The coffee pot takes 3 scoops.
.

[Hunt]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

However, it sort of looks like more companies go the planned obsolence route and design their devices in such ways that guarantee at some point their devices fail after a while.

In addition to the above, what do you people think about the possibility of panel makers unwittingly using counterfeit capacitors?
I seem to remember this was a concern or was that just scare mongering.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

Scare mongering.

They buy in vast quantities - direct from the factory.
If they are using counterfeits - they KNOW it.
.

[PlainBill]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

One point that I think bears consideration. Cost / benefit considerations are important for any consumer electronics firm. I think it's pretty obvious that
1. A large number of the problems we are dealing with are related to inferior caps, and

2. Good quality caps are available.

The manufacturers don't find it cost effective to use Nichicon / United Chemicon / etc when CapXon, Elite, etc will supply caps at a lower cost that will last through the warranty period, and several years beyond. Until consumers are willing to pay a premium for a more durable product, we are going to be replacing bad caps, shorted (or open) transformers, and pink CCFLs.

PlainBill

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

One point that I think bears consideration. Cost / benefit considerations are important for any consumer electronics firm. I think it's pretty obvious that
1. A large number of the problems we are dealing with are related to inferior caps, and

2. Good quality caps are available.

The manufacturers don't find it cost effective to use Nichicon / United Chemicon / etc when CapXon, Elite, etc will supply caps at a lower cost that will last through the warranty period, and several years beyond. Until consumers are willing to pay a premium for a more durable product, we are going to be replacing bad caps, shorted (or open) transformers, and pink CCFLs.

PlainBill

I think you might have some thing in what you are saying here

For my self I would not mind paying more for better caps

[shovenose]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

As consumers continue to want cheaper, larger TVs, cap quality becomes less important,
Especially in cheap/brands like Vizio and Dynex.
As long as the majority f the units live past warranty, they're fi e using crp components.
By the ti,e issues start showinnbn up online in places like here, theyve discontinued that model...

[smason]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

We have a metric crapload of LG monitors in the office. Almost everyone has a notebook, and 1 or 2 monitors. We've been buying them since probably 2005.
We've had maybe 4 fail in warranty, and about 5-7 out of warranty. I take 'em home, fix 'em and donate the 17" and 19" ers.
It's almost always bad caps though one was a failed CCFL that killed a dual FET, which I bought for too much from the U.K. replaced, re-capped THEN found the bad lamp.

Anyway, my point... even though they have known bad quality caps, and they're connected to power 24/7 (some don't get switched off) the majority have lasted well past warranty. 'course they're all ticking time bombs, and I'm never surprised when one dies....

[severach]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

For my self I would not mind paying more for better caps

I think you would't. Do you prefer servers or desktops?

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

As long as there's people who think they can get good quality from cheap crap the cheap crap will be produced. The worst part is that the buyers of cheap crap put pressure on makers of decent stuff to cut a corner here or there just to survive. The buyers of cheap crap don't see consequences of their cheap ways until enough time has passed that they can't see the connection between buying cheap crap and poor product life.

[Hunt]

Re: Is this cap problem getting worse or better?

I agree we should not just buy cheap, but the problem is price may not be an indicator of good value since there is limited unbiased information for buyers to judge how good a product is.