Seasonic 200W SFX woes

[demented_demon]

I was wondering if I could get any help with my Seasonic SFX power supply.

I've been getting strange instability inside my Atom based server with the video going fuzzy with this power supply recently, I've opened the power supply and marked the ones I think are bulging with black sharpie, seems like the 2200uf 6.3 v capacitors have gone bad, what should i replace these capacitors with?

Should I also replace all of the capacitors including the 16v 2200uf?

Thanks for your help.

[mariushm]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

You should replace the ones around the swollen capacitors as well, with the proper values.

Measure the diameter of those capacitors then pick a 2200uF 6.3v capacitor that is of that diameter (or smaller) from the following series:

Panasonic FM, FR
Nichicon HM, HN
United Chemi Com KZE
Rubycon ZLH

For a 200w psu, I think you might be fine replacing them with 1800uF capacitors, but it's safer to keep them at 2200uF if you can.

Check the Badcaps store, or if it's more convenient see digikey.com or farnell.com/newark.com/element14.com

[selldoor]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

As above^^ - Id replace all the caps except the big one although if that is
going bad it might cause the fuzz
I note you have been a member for years - please can you update your profile with country and mains voltage.

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

I'm in Australia, 240v 50hz nominal

On the other hand the control panel won't let me edit my profile with the information.

Edit: Nevermind, must have not made enough posts to let me edit my info.


http://www.ebay.ca/itm/6-NCC-KZE-6-3...ht_2552wt_1163
Would these capacitors do, I cannot find the equivalent series on http://australia.rs-online.com maybe i'm not looking hard enough? Kinda don't want to wait too long.

[mariushm]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

Yes, those should work... but I have to say I personally haven't seen the KZE capacitors with that color. The KZE series is usually brown, but it could be an old batch or a custom batch made for some company that guy put his hands on.

Pay attention to the diameter of the capacitors, your PSU is pretty tightly packed. The standard KZE 2200uF 6.3v are 10x25mm, your current capacitors may be 8mm in diameter.
If you read what's written on the capacitors, you should find out the series and then you can read the dimensions and the specs from the datasheets, which you can find here for cec :

ftp://helpedia.com/pub/temp/datashee...%20%5BJPCE%5D/

I can read there CE-TUR so they're probably the TUR series, in which case they should be 10x15mm so then you can use plenty of 10mm diameter capacitors.


See if the shipping fees are acceptable on element14.com (farnell), you can get these from them at 8mm diameter and 10mm :

8mm

http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhm...-3v/dp/1823798

10mm

http://au.element14.com/panasonic/ee...0uf/dp/1800610
http://au.element14.com/rubycon/6-3z...-3v/dp/8127166
http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhm...-3v/dp/1823797
http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhn...-3v/dp/1823684
http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhe...-3v/dp/1823622

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

Does it matter if you get 'low esr' capacitors in this particular case or would any 6.3v 2200uf capacitor would do?

[mariushm]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

All the ones I linked to above are low or ultra low ESR...

The datasheets don't always mention the "keyword" ESR because ESR has a more complex definition and varies depending on the frequency the circuit runs at and other factors.

But, for our needs and to keep it simple, the impedance values measured at 100kHz in listed in the datasheets are very close to what the ESR value should be... you can basically equal ESR to Impedance @ 100kHz.

For a 2200uF 6.3v capacitor, my belief is that any capacitor with ESR/Impedance equal or lower than 0.05 ohm would be good... and all the above are within 0.02-0.04 ohm impedance.

Some power supplies are designed in such a way that the ESR is a factor in the stability of the output voltage - sometimes they intentionally choose capacitors with a slightly higher ESR and if you put ultra low ESR you will get unstable output (higher ripple).

In this case, the TUR series datasheet doesn't even list the ESR or Impedance so I doubt the ESR plays a bit role. They are low(ish) ESR but at 10x15mm, I doubt they're low/very low ESR. You should be fine with any of the above capacitor brands.

PS. Consider getting the FR series capacitors from Panasonic as it's rated for up to 10k hours @ 105c if shipping fees aren't too big at element14 - with such small factor that power supply will be much warmer on average than regular power supplies, so capacitors with better lifetime rating would help. FM series is also OK at 4000-6000 hours, better than Nichicon HM or HN capacitors which are generally 2-4000 hours. KZE is also just 2000 hours. Basically they're all much better than those CE-TUR caps but in your case with small case and heat, you should go for higher lifetime ratings.

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

Thanks very much for you help and knowledge mariushm, I've definitely learnt something today

I think i'll go with this one since it seems more economical
http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhe...-3v/dp/1823622

[mariushm]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

The HE is OK.

FR is a bit better: http://au.element14.com/panasonic/ee...0uf/dp/1800610

You do have to get a pack of 5 but you have to replace 3-4 anyway so you don't lose much money.

Also, like it's already said, consider replacing the other capacitors on the secondary. Basically those 3 taller capacitors, especially the one right near the heatsink, should also be replaced.

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

I'll see if I can desolder the taller capacitors to ID them properly in the morning, I just can't get a good enough view since it's packed in so densely.

Okay i'll consider getting the FR panasonic then.

[c_hegge]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

Measure the diameter of those capacitors then pick a 2200uF 6.3v capacitor that is of that diameter (or smaller) from the following series:

Panasonic FM, FR
Nichicon HM, HN
United Chemi Com KZE
Rubycon ZLH

No. Do not use HM or HN in PSUs. Their ESR is far too low. If you're gonna go with Nichicon, then use PW, HE or HD series

[c_hegge]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

EDIT: Whoops, double post.

[mariushm]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

No. Do not use HM or HN in PSUs. Their ESR is far too low. If you're gonna go with Nichicon, then use PW, HE or HD series

Yes, you're right, their ESR is quite low. Mine register at 0.01 ohm with the esr meter:



I already explained that sometimes too low esr is bad, but it seems he already had in mind either the HE or the FR from Panasonic so it's all good.

[tom66]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

Green Chemicon is old Chemicon, I've seen navy blue ones too. Probably just old stock. Should be fine as long as they're unused.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

I also have seen green UCC KZEs, probably 2004 or 2005 vintage, samples provided by UCC. And I've seen blue LXYs and LXZs, similarly samples direct from UCC and similar age.

[mockingbird]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

I've got some green KZE. As for LXZ/LXY, they're still blue.

If you need 10mm diameters, go with Panasonic FK for the 16V 2200uF from Farnell..

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

I've removed the capacitors from the PSU.
4 2200uf 6.3v Pce-Tur
2 2200uf 16v Pce-Tur
1 2200uf 10v Pce-Tut

Is there any reason seasonic used a 10v capacitor? seems wierd to me.

The 16v and 10v capacitors seem fine, they seem not be bloated but i wouldn't know.

[c_hegge]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

^
Replace them anyway. use http://au.element14.com/nichicon/uhe...-3v/dp/1823622 for the 6.3 and 10v caps and http://au.element14.com/panasonic/ee...0uf/dp/1744922 for the 16V ones, since they look like 10mm diameter to me.

[mockingbird]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

What about all the small capacitors?

[demented_demon]

Re: Seasonic 200W SFX woes

The small capacitors are
16v 220uf pce-tur

Would it be suggested to replace these small ones as well, guess it won't hurt?