A500+ Cap replacement

craggus2000 · 10 November 2010, 09:22

Hi,

As my A500+ is currently in pieces being cleaned/modded/upgraded, etc. I thought I would take a look at the caps to see what their condition was.
While they all *look* fine, I have 3 questions:
1. Is it worth just changing them all anyway?
2. Is there anything I need to be cautious of when replacing them? (looking to do it myself, I think I'm not toooo bad with a soldering iron!)
3. There's a guy over on Amibay selling replacement cap kits for all models of Amiga for seemingly a good price - has anyone bought from him (not sure I'm allowed to state his Amibay username on here?), and are the quality of components good?

Thanks!

orange · 10 November 2010, 09:29

you should be careful not to destroy PCB (lift pads and traces) if you're not skilled/experienced enough.

alexh · 10 November 2010, 09:38

You are far more likely to do more harm than good. Check for bulging and then "if it ain't broken don't fix it".

craggus2000 · 10 November 2010, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

You are far more likely to do more harm than good. Check for bulging and then "if it ain't broken don't fix it".

Ok will do. Out of interest, what other harm could be done? (aside from lifting pads, as orange said)

alexh · 10 November 2010, 12:41

Static discharge can kill chips of this age.

Shorts between power & gnd through poor soldering & not checking with a multi-meter can kill motherboards and chips dead on first power on. BANG + Magic smoke.

craggus2000 · 10 November 2010, 12:46

Ahh.

Loedown · 10 November 2010, 12:51

I would like to offer a different take.

When I am not stacking pallets with groceries I actually have the joy of repairing old hardware, whether it be synthesizers or computers or a very humble video recorder.

If you're confident and competent with a soldering iron I can see no reason why you wouldn't feel like replacing the capacitors, the benefits can be seen to outweigh the risks.

1. Old capacitors do not filter as well as their newer counterparts.

2. Capacitor design and implementation is in a state of constant flux, electrolyte and overall design is improved as time progresses.

3. Replacing older capacitors with newer and superior parts, keeping in mind that the original A500 / A500 + parts were built to a price not a premium should tell you that the parts sourced *may* not have been fantastic.

Although I will agree with Alexh, if your soldering skills aren't up to scratch and / or your iron is crap, leave it be.

alexh · 10 November 2010, 14:19

Another thing; some capacitors have a polarity, if in the process of replacing capacitors you accidentally fitted some them backwards and they would degrade faster and leak much sooner that perhaps even the original parts.

FOL · 10 November 2010, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

You are far more likely to do more harm than good. Check for bulging and then "if it ain't broken don't fix it".

he he, my favorite saying,

.

Never seen an A500 with leaky / buldged caps, do they exist,

.
No I dont mean where people have modded / botched their mobo's.

Zetr0 · 10 November 2010, 16:16

@craggus

Although the A500+ uses mainly through-hole components it uses VERY large (heat sapping) ground planes.

In a lot of ways - changing caps on these boards is harder than the SMD stuff - simply because a lot of heat is needed to negate these ground planes!

I have had atleast a dozen A500/A500+ motherboards through my house in the last year - and the only fault they have suffered is battery alkaline damage.

1. If you have the kit to remove the capacitors safely
2. If you have the ability to use said kit
3. If you have the replacement capacitors ready to go

AND
4. If you have the time to do all of the above

Then go for it, as this will save you having to do it 5 - 10 years down the line =)

Now, personally - unless you are having or experiencing issues or faults then dont waste time and or money - instead save up for an indivision ECS (like me =))

craggus2000 · 10 November 2010, 23:11

Right, well after those comments / advice, I think I'll leave it then! They all seem to look fine, so won't tempt fate...

8bitbubsy · 11 November 2010, 02:06

I agree, changing the caps on an A500 mobo is a pain for sure. Also I've not seen them leak/dry either, I think the Amigas with SMD caps are the one you should change the caps on.

10 November 2010, 09:22	#1
craggus2000 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Braintree, Essex, UK Age: 39 Posts: 126	A500+ Cap replacement Hi, As my A500+ is currently in pieces being cleaned/modded/upgraded, etc. I thought I would take a look at the caps to see what their condition was. While they all look fine, I have 3 questions: 1. Is it worth just changing them all anyway? 2. Is there anything I need to be cautious of when replacing them? (looking to do it myself, I think I'm not toooo bad with a soldering iron!) 3. There's a guy over on Amibay selling replacement cap kits for all models of Amiga for seemingly a good price - has anyone bought from him (not sure I'm allowed to state his Amibay username on here?), and are the quality of components good? Thanks!

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10 November 2010, 09:29	#2
orange Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belgrade Posts: 567	you should be careful not to destroy PCB (lift pads and traces) if you're not skilled/experienced enough.

10 November 2010, 09:38	#3
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,466	You are far more likely to do more harm than good. Check for bulging and then "if it ain't broken don't fix it".

10 November 2010, 12:41	#5
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,466	Static discharge can kill chips of this age. Shorts between power & gnd through poor soldering & not checking with a multi-meter can kill motherboards and chips dead on first power on. BANG + Magic smoke.

10 November 2010, 12:46	#6
craggus2000 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Braintree, Essex, UK Age: 39 Posts: 126	Ahh.

10 November 2010, 12:51	#7
Loedown Precious & fragile things Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,946	I would like to offer a different take. When I am not stacking pallets with groceries I actually have the joy of repairing old hardware, whether it be synthesizers or computers or a very humble video recorder. If you're confident and competent with a soldering iron I can see no reason why you wouldn't feel like replacing the capacitors, the benefits can be seen to outweigh the risks. 1. Old capacitors do not filter as well as their newer counterparts. 2. Capacitor design and implementation is in a state of constant flux, electrolyte and overall design is improved as time progresses. 3. Replacing older capacitors with newer and superior parts, keeping in mind that the original A500 / A500 + parts were built to a price not a premium should tell you that the parts sourced may not have been fantastic. Although I will agree with Alexh, if your soldering skills aren't up to scratch and / or your iron is crap, leave it be.

10 November 2010, 14:19	#8
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,466	Another thing; some capacitors have a polarity, if in the process of replacing capacitors you accidentally fitted some them backwards and they would degrade faster and leak much sooner that perhaps even the original parts.

10 November 2010, 16:16	#10
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@craggus Although the A500+ uses mainly through-hole components it uses VERY large (heat sapping) ground planes. In a lot of ways - changing caps on these boards is harder than the SMD stuff - simply because a lot of heat is needed to negate these ground planes! I have had atleast a dozen A500/A500+ motherboards through my house in the last year - and the only fault they have suffered is battery alkaline damage. 1. If you have the kit to remove the capacitors safely 2. If you have the ability to use said kit 3. If you have the replacement capacitors ready to go AND 4. If you have the time to do all of the above Then go for it, as this will save you having to do it 5 - 10 years down the line =) Now, personally - unless you are having or experiencing issues or faults then dont waste time and or money - instead save up for an indivision ECS (like me =))

10 November 2010, 23:11	#11
craggus2000 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Braintree, Essex, UK Age: 39 Posts: 126	Right, well after those comments / advice, I think I'll leave it then! They all seem to look fine, so won't tempt fate...

11 November 2010, 02:06	#12
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,715	I agree, changing the caps on an A500 mobo is a pain for sure. Also I've not seen them leak/dry either, I think the Amigas with SMD caps are the one you should change the caps on.

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