A1200 Capacitors... new or not?

ubermick · 23 July 2012, 01:10

Sorry, this will likely make me sound like a complete idiot (Which is fair enough, since I am a complete idiot) but since I've never seen another A1200 mainboard, I have nothing to compare it to. So take a look at the attached pics, and lemme know how these capacitors look to you... when I opened the case up for the first time to clean it out, the capacitor behind the video out jack looked somewhat manky, but having now hit it with some compressed air and swabbing it with some alcohol, I wonder if they're as bad as I first thought, and actually look in pretty good nick...

So what do you reckon, lads? These need to be replaced, or are nothing to worry about?

BarryB · 23 July 2012, 01:25

From those pics they look OK as the top of the cans haven't swollen indicating 'bad caps' and there is no electrolyte leaking all over the place!

Just looks like mould/mildew or whatever has gotten inside the case, I would take out the board and give it a thorough inspection and clean any dirt with cotton buds soaked in isopropyl alcohol or similar.

You can compare your board to those here: http://bboah.amiga-resistance.info/c....cgi?HARDID=13

Just wade through the motherboard pictures to compare!!

protek · 02 August 2012, 18:13

If you have a pressurised can of air with a nozzle, spray the caps with it so that the air is still liquid and "boils" away on the surface of the caps. If you smell rotten fish, your caps need changing.

keitha1200 · 02 August 2012, 22:10

If you can afford too or know someone? I'd just get them re-capped for piece of mind.

I know from personal experience that: more and more 600's are showing up on ebay as faulty! So It's only a matter of time (in my opinion) that a similar trend will start with 1200's. Of course this just my personal opinion, with no scientific evidence, to support my theory

BarryB · 03 August 2012, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by protek

If you smell rotten fish

There are only TWO things that smell like fish, and one of them is fish

ubermick · 03 August 2012, 01:37

Hmm, I'll give that a try with the compressed air.

Keith, I wish to CHRIST I knew someone locally who could recap these. If I was still back over the water, I'd be sorted, but here in California, nobody will touch this. Took it into every wee electronics and repair shop I could find, and they want nothing to do with it. So my only option seems to be sending it to Amigakit, which by the time I pay the fee for that, as well as the shipping there and back, I can basically buy a new mainboard.

23 July 2012, 01:10	#1
ubermick Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Francisco-ish, via Ireland Posts: 114	A1200 Capacitors... new or not? Sorry, this will likely make me sound like a complete idiot (Which is fair enough, since I am a complete idiot) but since I've never seen another A1200 mainboard, I have nothing to compare it to. So take a look at the attached pics, and lemme know how these capacitors look to you... when I opened the case up for the first time to clean it out, the capacitor behind the video out jack looked somewhat manky, but having now hit it with some compressed air and swabbing it with some alcohol, I wonder if they're as bad as I first thought, and actually look in pretty good nick... So what do you reckon, lads? These need to be replaced, or are nothing to worry about? Attached Thumbnails

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23 July 2012, 01:25	#2
BarryB Amigaholic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 4,759	From those pics they look OK as the top of the cans haven't swollen indicating 'bad caps' and there is no electrolyte leaking all over the place! Just looks like mould/mildew or whatever has gotten inside the case, I would take out the board and give it a thorough inspection and clean any dirt with cotton buds soaked in isopropyl alcohol or similar. You can compare your board to those here: http://bboah.amiga-resistance.info/c....cgi?HARDID=13 Just wade through the motherboard pictures to compare!!

02 August 2012, 18:13	#3
protek Amiga hobbyist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 250	If you have a pressurised can of air with a nozzle, spray the caps with it so that the air is still liquid and "boils" away on the surface of the caps. If you smell rotten fish, your caps need changing.

02 August 2012, 22:10	#4
keitha1200 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tayside Posts: 181	If you can afford too or know someone? I'd just get them re-capped for piece of mind. I know from personal experience that: more and more 600's are showing up on ebay as faulty! So It's only a matter of time (in my opinion) that a similar trend will start with 1200's. Of course this just my personal opinion, with no scientific evidence, to support my theory

03 August 2012, 01:37	#6
ubermick Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Francisco-ish, via Ireland Posts: 114	Hmm, I'll give that a try with the compressed air. Keith, I wish to CHRIST I knew someone locally who could recap these. If I was still back over the water, I'd be sorted, but here in California, nobody will touch this. Took it into every wee electronics and repair shop I could find, and they want nothing to do with it. So my only option seems to be sending it to Amigakit, which by the time I pay the fee for that, as well as the shipping there and back, I can basically buy a new mainboard.

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