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Ordinal Woes

Lancastrian

Well-Known Member
Having had my PT Ordinal DAC since late 1993, the capacitors finally succumbed from 24 years of use. It was only due to an inspection ahead of a HDCD filter chipset arriving, that I saw some signs of something awry.

Twenty-two 2200uf/16v LXF capacitors
36670382676_f0a09d9e27_c.jpg
by Ian Allen, on Flickr

Signs of leakage
36321049280_d8d737a37a_c.jpg
by Ian Allen, on Flickr

The mess after removal
35907033243_4101fa83aa_c.jpg
by Ian Allen, on Flickr

Post clean up
36577725011_c0c9fe19a8_c.jpg
by Ian Allen, on Flickr

Populated with new Nichicon KA type 2200uf/16v capacitors.
36716235705_d77279b785_c.jpg
by Ian Allen, on Flickr

Thanks to Nick Lucas at HiFi Collective as I was able to pop round and pick up the capacitors and complete the repair in an afternoon.

Ian
 
Is this a common failure?

I'd always assumed that a cursory glance at the top of electrolytics was sufficient: i.e. the triangulated top is designed to burst and that's where any leak will be. This is clearly wrong, although it does seem to apply to those in the MDAC.
 
Sometimes they bulge out at the top, others they leak out of the bottom. Good job but have you checked the voltages they are seeing before replacing with 16V parts? it could be close to their voltage rating, this will shorten their life
 
One of the issues is physical can size restriction, and with the 105 degree requirement, there is a limit to what is out there, of good enough quality that is. Nichicon do have a 25v version with the same diameter, and doing some research last night, they even have a 3300uF 25v version with the same 12.5mm diameter, so at a later stage I could move to these.

Ian
 


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