Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

[starfury1]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

a cheap cap is the most likely failure here.

thats the hope KC8.... thanks

I just don't know enough about them and you would have a far better idea them me KC8

Seems there is no other damage to look at anyway.
(which I would be expecting)

well guess its wait and see OrBy

Keep us posted

Cheers

[davmax]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

KC8. It seems that we have come full circle in that at a very early I said replace the cap and check operation. Amazing and hoping that is the fix.

That cap has not done badly, ten years and likely a hot running temp.

[starfury1]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

True davmax you did
and yeah hoping the cap just decided to commit suicide.

It was me that was more suspecting something else of its demise

we will know in a week or so

keep us posted

Cheers

[OrBy]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

I will keep everyone posted!

[davmax]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

If this PSU has been working for ten years and HOT then maybe it is close to end of life for all the electro caps. As has been previously recommended it is a good idea to replace the remainder if it returns to normal operation after you get the big one installed.

[OrBy]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

Well I have found out 3 things today that I didn't know when I woke up.
Digikey ships really fast.
Purolator delivers on holidays.
It seems it really was just a bad cap. (at least for now)

Cause guys - it's working again! (Yay)

I am going to stress test it for a bit and then let the GF at it so she can get some outstanding work done. Once she is ok with it I will crack it open again and get a list of the rest of the caps on the secondary side and put another order in cause I agree that there is a good chance that many are going to be getting near to the end of their lives.

With that being said they should hold out better then the big one because the way the PS was setup there are two fans very close to the secondary side that push cold air past it to the primary side before exiting at the rear. By the time air was getting to the big cap it was probably already warm and it probably does not help to have that big heat sink next to it warming it up more.

I thank all of you starfury1, davmax, and kc8adu for taking time out of your days to help me out!

[starfury1]

Re: Help fixing a G4 Mac PS - need EE to double check choices

No worries
Good to hear!,
it was a "Suicide Cap" that was the issue.

(I was sort of dreading anything else.)

Cheers