CapAnalyzer 88A/Best CAPS to buy

CamaroMurph

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I need some help on a couple of issues. First, I am new to using the CapAnalyzer 88A. I have tested caps on my Tempest boards and on a couple I get a DCR low signal (DCR setting at 150 ohms). I turn the DCR ohms down and the error on those caps doesn't go away until I get it below 10 ohms. I assume this means the caps are bad. Once I set it below 10 ohms and it's gets into test, the ESR test passes.

I did a study today as I was curious with the readings on my board with a couple of caps that were in the yellow on the analyzer. I took most of the extra new caps I have bought over the last 3 years and tested them right out of the bag. At least 1/2 of them fail or are in the yellow. Is this right? Can the new caps be bad?

What is the best brand of cap to buy?

Murph
 
If you haven't already, you should definitely read the manual: http://www.eds-inc.com/Eds88Aom.doc . First... DCR is the DC resistance... this is usually caused by other paths in the circuit (like a capacitor in parallel with a 100 ohm resistor). That would need the DCR below 100 to not say DCR Low. I typically keep mine below 10 ohms, because typically if a cap is shorted, it'll be below 10 ohms... and even if it isn't, it shouldn't give a good reading.

Second... yellow/red lights aren't necessarily bad. You have to cross reference the table on the side with the value of the capacitor. An ESR of 6.00 (well into the red LEDs) is still good on a 0.5uF cap, but VERY bad on a 2200uF cap.

DogP
 
DogP -

Thanks. I had read the manual and was still a little confused so I thought I would ask. I guess you really need to understand the circuit to understand what the DCR needs to be set at.

I did know to cross reference the value on the table with the reading and color code. Seems like the bigger the cap value the less likely I was to get a green. Mostly red or yellow.

What was interesting was all the new caps I tested. Now I'll give you that most were yellow and not too many red. Some were green.

What is a good brand of cap to buy? I have Xicon, Nichicon mostly.
 
I dunno... I usually buy whatever is cheap, or comes in cap kits ;) . Xicon, Nichicon, Panasonic... can't say I've ever noticed a difference.

DogP
 
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