Re: ECS mcp61pm-hm 6-bad 1800uf 63 Tk caps
I've attached two close-up photos that show the capacitor that has the small brown (electrolyte) spot and very slight upward bulge at its vent. The bulge is hard to see clearly because it's so slight... the photo shot from the side is the better view. The photo shot from above is the better view of the brown spot. I believe the zillion tiny white particles are dust motes, not leaked electrolyte.
The photos were shot about 6 months ago. To my eye, the capacitor still looks the same now... the bulge & spot haven't gotten any larger.
Does the smallness of the brown spot and the slightness of the bulge mean the capacitor is still mostly functioning? In other words, do the smallness and slightness decrease the probability that this capacitor will cause other capacitors to fail, compared to what the probability would be if the spot & bulge were larger?
If so, it may shift the balance between the risk of replacing the capacitor versus the risk of not replacing the capacitor.
C_hegge's comment that other capacitors are being forced to take up the slack suggests a third option should be considered: soldering an additional capacitor to the underside of the motherboard without removing the one that's failing. (Because my motherboard is running on my desk instead of being installed in the computer case, I'm not constrained by the narrow gap between motherboard & case; there's room to add components to the underside.) The new capacitor wouldn't have a mechanically strong connection because it would be held on only by solder and electrician's tape, but I would promise to be careful to avoid stressing it mechanically.
(By the way, the motherboard photo attached to my previous message was a stock image copied from HP's website.)
Thanks again!
I've attached two close-up photos that show the capacitor that has the small brown (electrolyte) spot and very slight upward bulge at its vent. The bulge is hard to see clearly because it's so slight... the photo shot from the side is the better view. The photo shot from above is the better view of the brown spot. I believe the zillion tiny white particles are dust motes, not leaked electrolyte.
The photos were shot about 6 months ago. To my eye, the capacitor still looks the same now... the bulge & spot haven't gotten any larger.
Does the smallness of the brown spot and the slightness of the bulge mean the capacitor is still mostly functioning? In other words, do the smallness and slightness decrease the probability that this capacitor will cause other capacitors to fail, compared to what the probability would be if the spot & bulge were larger?
If so, it may shift the balance between the risk of replacing the capacitor versus the risk of not replacing the capacitor.
C_hegge's comment that other capacitors are being forced to take up the slack suggests a third option should be considered: soldering an additional capacitor to the underside of the motherboard without removing the one that's failing. (Because my motherboard is running on my desk instead of being installed in the computer case, I'm not constrained by the narrow gap between motherboard & case; there's room to add components to the underside.) The new capacitor wouldn't have a mechanically strong connection because it would be held on only by solder and electrician's tape, but I would promise to be careful to avoid stressing it mechanically.
(By the way, the motherboard photo attached to my previous message was a stock image copied from HP's website.)
Thanks again!
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