Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

[tj2]

I got a Seasonic SS-300FS (active PFC version) and one of the caps is bulging, so I'd like to recap it. Several of the caps are Pce-tur but I can't find a series. I'm thinking of replacing them with Nichicon PW series. The one OST has very good specs, so I need to replace with a Panasonic FM to get similar, but slightly better, specs. Has anyone redone one of these? Is it likely that the Nichicon PW series is good enough to replace the Pce-tur caps? Should I consider using Panasonic FM for all caps?

2x 3300 uF 10 V 15x30 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW 16 V
2200 uF 16 V 15x25 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW 25 V
2200 uF 10 V 10x20 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
2x 2200 uF 6.3 V 10x20 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
470 uF 10 V 8x15 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
220 uF 16 V 8x10 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
100 uF 25 V 6x10 OST RLS -> Panasonic FM
2x 47 uF 25 V 5x15 ? -> Panasonic FM

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

>>Should I consider using Panasonic FM for all caps?<<
Not just consider.

Toast

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

>>Should I consider using Panasonic FM for all caps?<<
Not just consider.

Toast

Some of the caps aren't available in the FM series at the same physical size. Fortunately, however, today I received my ESR-micro v4.0 from RusMike so now I can check the ESR of the Pce-tur.

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Here:

Re-sorted the list to ascending volts/capacitance (the way the spec sheets are laid out).

(2) 6.3/2200 - 10x20 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
(1) 10/470 - 8x15 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
(1) 10/2200 - 10x20 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
(2) 10/3300 - 15x30 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW 16 V
(1) 16/220 - 8x10 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW
(1) 16/2200 - 15x25 Pce-tur -> Nichicon PW 25 V
(2) 25/47 - 5x15 ? -> Panasonic FM
(1) 25/100 - 6x10 OST RLS -> Panasonic FM


All FM:

(2) 6.3/2200 - 10x20 - 10x25 - EEUFM0J222L
(1) 10/470 - 8x15 - 8x11.5 - EEUFM1A471
(1) 10/2200 - 10x20 - 12.5x20 - EEUFM1A222 (2600mA)
** use a 6.3v cap here if 12.5 won't fit - 10x20 - EEUFM0J222L (2470mA)

(2) 10/3300 - 15x30 - 12.5x25 - EEUFM1A332
(1) 16/220 - 8x10 - 8x11.5 - N/A in FM use 25/220 - EEUFM1E221 (0.056/950mA)
** same trick as 10/2200 above - higher voltage than necessary but better ratings

(1) 16/2200 - 15x25 - 12.5x25 - EEUFM1C222
(2) 25/47 - 5x15 - 5x11 - EEUFM1E470
(1) 25/100 - 6x10 - 6.3x11.2 - EEUFM1E101

Toast

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

What is mains cap(s) brand/series?

Pics would be nice of before and after.

Toast

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

What is mains cap(s) brand/series?

Pics would be nice of before and after.

Toast

Toast, thanks for looking up the equivalents. That's a lot of work with the datasheets! I have a large directory with many datasheets on my laptop and have been looking up specs myself.

There's one mains cap and it's a Hitachi HP3. It looks OK.

My problem now is that many of the Panasonic FM series are not available on Digi-Key (or Mouser, of course). Will the FM series have longevity in a hot PSU? I know that the specs say so, but I'm looking for real world data.

I'll put up pics when I get them.

[ratdude747]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

samxons come in the sizes you need. order them from topcat.

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Mains cap is fine then. Concerned over some fails on some brands. Hitachi seems ok.

>>many of the Panasonic FM series are not available on Digi-Key (or Mouser, of course).<<

Ya gonna tell me which ones or do I get to guess?

Mouser never handles much FM. 1 or 2 I think. Disappointing.

Toast

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

My bad, Toast. I just checked again and I think all of the ones you specified are available, though there are only two left of the EEUFM1A222 (10/2200). I see that I didn't find some of the ones you listed, such as the EEUFM1A332 (10/3300), because I originally specified diameter as 15 and a little above. With a smaller cap I'll have to bend the leads, I think -- it seems that 15 mm diameter and a little above usually have 7.50 mm lead spacing and the 12.5 mm diameter ones have 5.00 mm lead spacing. I was hoping to use caps in roughly the same size, though things are a bit tight in the PSU. Guess I'm just anal about such things, or perhaps neurotic.

I'm attaching a couple of "before" photos.

Do you usually use FMs in PSUs? Have they lasted?

[kc8adu]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

give a direct overhead shot.
that thing may be punched out for 12.5mm
i did one os the ss series and 12.5 fit fine.

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Once you get the caps out it might have holes drilled for the smaller pitch already. Sometimes the board maker does this so if they run out of one size they can switch easily to another. I'm also one to drill the board if I need to make a component (not just caps) fit.

Please take a shot of the area near the mains cap where the smaller transformer is? I want to see the 5vsb area and surrounding components.

I'll check the FM's for myself. I did see one out of stock and the one with the 2 remaining.

Newark may have the missing ones.

Yes, I try to stay with FM's as much as I can with PSU's. They're usually well stocked at DK and I can generally get a complete recap out of them. There are exceptions, especially when you have 10mm caps in unrealistic values jammed next to each other. I have resorted to jacking the board up with spacers and placing the cap underneath.

Other problems are FM's don't go low enough in value (smallest capacitance is 22uF@50v) so various others are used for anything below the FM lower limit(s).

Toast

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Here's an overhead shot and one from a more oblique angle. I notice that there is a missing diode near the OST cap in the middle of the board, where the 5 Vsb presumably is. The board is discolored there. This unit is supposed to be new (it was sold to me as new by hypermicrosystems), so if that's true it must have come from the factory this way. If that OST is in the 5 Vsb section, it must be more important to have a low ESR, high ripple cap there.

I have noticed that some boards, namely the FIC VA-503+ and FB-11 boards, come double drilled in some capacitor spots. I'll have to remove the board to see if it's double drilled in spots. Now I'll need to make a simple bleeder for that 220 uF 400 V Hitachi before any caps I order arrive. I don't want to simply short it out if I'm not replacing it.

Which reminds me; is it likely that the caps would need reforming since the unit is something like seven years old and hasn't had power applied in a long time?

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

============== DIGIKEY STOCK - 04 Dec 2009 6PM EST ===================

(2) 6.3/2200 - 10x20 - 10x25 - EEUFM0J222L < 0 >
** use UCC KZE - EKZE6R3ELL222MJ25S < YES >

(1) 10/470 - 8x15 - 8x11.5 - EEUFM1A471 < YES >
(1) 10/2200 - 10x20 - 12.5x20 - EEUFM1A222 (2600mA) < YES - LOW STOCK >
** use a 6.3v cap here if 12.5 won't fit - 10x20 - EEUFM0J222L (2470mA) < 0 >
** use UCC KZE - EKZE6R3ELL222MJ25S < YES >

(2) 10/3300 - 15x30 - 12.5x25 - EEUFM1A332 < YES >
(1) 16/220 - 8x10 - 8x11.5 - N/A in FM use 25/220 - EEUFM1E221 (0.056/950mA) < YES >
** same trick as 10/2200 above - higher voltage than necessary but better ratings

(1) 16/2200 - 15x25 - 12.5x25 - EEUFM1C222 < YES >
(2) 25/47 - 5x15 - 5x11 - EEUFM1E470 < YES >
(1) 25/100 - 6x10 - 6.3x11.2 - EEUFM1E101 < YES >

Toast

[Toasty]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Is that the 2 transistor 5vsb!?!

I'm not the egghead on this. Where's Everell when you need him.

He's probably nodded off again. Ya gotta keep on the elderly...

I would be careful on power-up. Reforming sounds like a good idea. Hook a 60w table lamp in series with the mains. Apply power and let it come up and sit that way for 30 minutes. Then jumper it on at the mobo plug for another 30 mins. I think that would allow them to reform and the the bulb will limit the power to ~1/2 an amp to the PSU. Anything that draws too much will be limited by the lamp. After that you can remove the series lamp setup and it should be okay.

Toast

[370forlife]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Is that the 2 transistor 5vsb!?!

I'm not too sure on this, but I think it is

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

That should be right.
Note burnt PCB right there too.

[everell]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

I would have to agree with 370forlife - he has done a good job of pointing out the two transistors. On the left side of the left heat sink, there is what looks like a bulging capacitor next to the violet (5vsb) wire. I would therefore predict that the "critical" cap between the two heat sinks is high esr already.

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

That should be right.
Note burnt PCB right there too.

Yes, that burnt spot has me puzzled. This is supposed to be a NEW unit, so I didn't expect any bad signs other than possibly bad brands of caps. The spot where the burn is has silk screening for a diode and there are pointy wires coming up at that spot, but no diode. I'm going to have to go back to work to check whether that's a large transistor there. If this is the dreaded two transistor 5 Vsb circuit, I'm going to want to modify it further to remedy that circuit! Rats, I was thinking that the bulged cap was the only real problem!

[370forlife]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Everell does a mod to completely cut out the 2 transistor 5vsb circuit and add a better circuit, he can explain.

That missing diode may have been a problem causer in the design, large quantities of these units may have been sent back via RMA to seasonic and they made the modification to remove said component and re-sell them as refurbished. I have a couple of newton psu's that have the "ripped off" resistors and such. Probably quick changes to save a few.

[tj2]

Re: Questions on recapping a Seasonic SS-300FS

Everell does a mod to completely cut out the 2 transistor 5vsb circuit and add a better circuit, he can explain.

That missing diode may have been a problem causer in the design, large quantities of these units may have been sent back via RMA to seasonic and they made the modification to remove said component and re-sell them as refurbished.

I hope that a Seasonic refurbished unit would not be sold as new! (But I'm not naive enough to think that such things don't happen all the time.)

I'm game for modding this beast, though now the cost will rise quite a bit, especially in terms of my time. I wonder if the whole 5 Vsb couldn't be completely ripped out and the PSU modded to be switched on and off via the rear switch. I rarely need to turn my machines off.