Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

[E8200]

Ok, my Antec EA-380 needs a fix. Symptoms were, that after power loss computer did not start and motherboard (Asus P5W DH Deluxe) led was blinking only (should stay on after PSU connected). After many tries I was able to start PC when I did connect ATX connector after turning PSU on from back first. When PC started it did not show any more symptoms bu after switching off PSU all problem repeated. And new motherboard GigaByte Z97X-UD3H-BK did not start at all, only fans moved slightly and off again.

After opening PSU did find one bulged cap (Ost RLX 1000uf, 10v in the picture 1). Question is, can Ost RLX, and maybe others marked in pictures with green (Ost RLX, RLP, RLS) be replaced with Panasonic FM series and 2 1000uF, 10v RLX with Panasonic FR (2200uF, 10v FM not available at moment). Did a little homework and Panasonic FM and FR seems to have similar features, comparison is in picture Caps List. Or is there any other better options?

Parts to replace, is it ok?

Ost RLX, 3300uF,10v, Ripple 2780, Imp. 0,014
to
Panasonic FM, 3300uF,10v, Ripple 3190, Imp. 0,015, EEUFM1A332

Ost RLX, 2200uF, 10v, Ripple 2500, Imp. 0,015
to
Panasonic FR, 2200uF, 10v,Ripple 2470, Imp. 0,018, EEUFR1A222L

Ost RLS, 1000uF, 10v, Ripple 1250, Imp. 0,041 and
Ost RLP, 1000uF, 10v, Ripple 995, Imp 0,074
to
Panasonic FM, 1000uF, 10v, Ripple 1560, Imp 0,030, EEUFM1A102L

[Per Hansson]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Well done!
Your list looks fine to me, the replacements for the RLP's might be stretching it, but otherwise looks good!

But don't forget the small capacitors, those are most likely the reason why you PSU is having problem turning on, and it can go "boom" if they become too poor!

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Thanks, first thought was to replace all, small ones too, so I will do full recap.

Small ones are all Ost RLS, so FM should be fine there too, only thing was, that thre's no 220uF, 16V FM, is 330uF,16V ok? Is there any other suggestions to replace RLP? Maybe NCC KY?

RLP Ripple 995, Imp. 0.074
NCC KY Ripple 1050, Imp. 0.069

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Thanks, first thought was to replace all, small ones too, so I will do full recap.

Small ones are all Ost RLS, so FM should be fine there too, only thing was, that thre's no 220uF, 16V FM, is 330uF,16V ok? Is there any other suggestions to replace RLP? Maybe NCC KY?

RLP Ripple 995, Imp. 0.074
NCC KY Ripple 1050, Imp. 0.069

Ky will work fine, that will be one solid psu when you have recapped it

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Well, it served me 7 years almost non-stop 24/7 in use. I have nothing better to do at the moment so I give it a try. I think it deserves it.

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Caps out, now shopping.

[stj]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

if you need any caps that are tall and thin, check out panasonic FK series.

[delaware74b]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Another tip on this power supply: remove ALL the yellow glue. It gets conductive when it turns brown from heat and it lets out all the magical smoke.

[seanc]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

I quite like these PSUs, I've got a few I've recapped here and there. Once the caps are replaced they seem to be nice and reliable.

I once predicted one of those EA-380 was about to fail as it was in a quiet room and I could hear it hissing depending on what the PC was trying to do (load). A couple of weeks later, the PC was giving a BSOD on boot. Swapped the PSU and it was fine.

Caps showed no visible signs of failure, I must have recapped it and put it in something anyway.

[c_hegge]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

if you need any caps that are tall and thin, check out panasonic FK series.

This. That 3300uF 6.3V cap on the 5vSB rail will be a problem, in that a 12.5mm Fappny FM won't fit easily. You can get a 3300uF 6.3V Panny FK, which will fit. It's electrical specifications aren't as good as those of RLX but it will still be more than adequate for this application.

Panny FR and FM, or even FC should be fine everywhere else.

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

This. That 3300uF 6.3V cap on the 5vSB rail will be a problem, in that a 12.5mm Fappny FM won't fit easily. You can get a 3300uF 6.3V Panny FK, which will fit. It's electrical specifications aren't as good as those of RLX but it will still be more than adequate for this application.

Panny FR and FM, or even FC should be fine everywhere else.

Oh, I know, but already ordered 3300 FM and after changing once a car tyre with desktop vice and levers, I think I can make it fit there. There's always a bigger hammer lying around.

List goes:
Cap, alu elect, 1000uf, 16v, can,EEUFR1C102L
Cap, alu elec, 1000uf, 10v, rad,EEUFM1A102L
Cap, alu elec, 3300uf, 10v, rad,EEUFM1A332
Cap, alu elec, 2200uf, 16v, rad,EEUFM1C222
Cap, alu elec, 2200uf, 10v, rad,EEUFR1A222L
Cap, alu elec, 1000uf, 10v, rad,EEUFC1A102L
Cap, alu elec, 220uf, 16v, rad,EEUFR1C221
Cap, alu elec, 22uf, 50v, rad,EEUFR1H220
Cap, alu elec, 47uf, 50v, rad,EEUFR1H470
D-Day is tomorrow.

Is there any point to replace Nippon Chemi-Con SMQ 220uF/400V/1.49A primary cap also?

[stj]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

i dont think you ever need to change he primary's if they are made by NCCor Rubycon.

[Behemot]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Seems like Seasonic S12-II OEM design to me.

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Seems like Seasonic S12-II OEM design to me.

Funny thing, replaced my broken Antec with Seasonic S12 II-Bronze 430W. Would open it up and look inside but it's under warranty for 2 years.

[Behemot]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Yes, it is Seasonic for sure. They were fine for a long time, now it seems that OSTs and other crap in them are beginning to fail around me, after aprox. 6-7 years of use. Gonna drive my caps sales, great

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Well, mine has all around Panasonic (FM, FR and FC) inside now, plus original NCC primary. BTW, this 12,5mm 3300uF/10V FM fitted in just fine, no room to spare but it is there. (first pic.)

Tested voltages
+3.3V is 3.2V
+5V is 4.9V
+12V is 12.1V
-12V is 11.4V
+5VSB is 5.0V

3.3V, -12V and 5V little bit low?

But everything works and this blinking MB led and no-start issues are gone, P5W DH Deluxe powers up like it should, first time, every time.

Work is done, thanks to everyone for help. Another badcap to goodcap story.

[Behemot]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Yeah this topology counts with a few 12,5mm caps. But most others do not, especially Fortrons BlueStorm II / Epsilon / Everest, they even have 8mm caps. If you'll need some 3300/6,3 V or 3300/16 V caps in future, as well as 1500/6,3 D8 and 1000/16 D8, let me know.

Those voltages are with multimeter, or some BIOS-like reading?

[E8200]

Re: Antec EA-380 Bad capacitor replacement

Measured with cheapo multimeter, don't know how accurate this thing is.