Replacing Capacitors

Tighe

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The amp in my Mortal Kombat sound board went, and I am getting very quiet sound. I figure the capasitors in the sound amp went, so I am ordering replacements.

My question is, what caps should I replace? I am planning on only replacing the electrolytic ones.

Capacitors_electrolytic.jpg


Has anyone found they had to replace the other types too?

Also, is there a particular brand that is better than others? I don't want to replace them with ones that are going to go bad again.
 
They are both electrolytic caps. the one on top is axial (leads on each end) and the one on the bottom is radial (both leads on the same end).

(figured someone may not know that)

Anyway, you can order these from Mouser if you want. Most caps nowadays are fine.


And I didn't check out any of the MK sound threads, but I assume you first tried turning up the volume in the menu?

Also, I had an MK2 set recently that didn't play sound (even though it used to). i reseated the connectors and all of the chips and sound worked fine again...
 
They are both electrolytic caps. the one on top is axial (leads on each end) and the one on the bottom is radial (both leads on the same end).

(figured someone may not know that)

Anyway, you can order these from Mouser if you want. Most caps nowadays are fine.


And I didn't check out any of the MK sound threads, but I assume you first tried turning up the volume in the menu?

Also, I had an MK2 set recently that didn't play sound (even though it used to). i reseated the connectors and all of the chips and sound worked fine again...

I understand that they are the same (just to be clear) :D

The MK 1 model I have does not have any menu for adjusting the volume, it is done with a pot. I plugged right into the audio out on the sound board (by passing the main board and jamma harness) and have the same issue, so I know the problem is with the audio amp.

DSCN4645.JPG


It does play sound, just very quietly. The volume pot tests out fine at 50K resistance. I did re-seat all the chips just to make sure. I am pretty confident that the problem will be solved by replacing the capacitors.

Now I have 3 projects to replace capasitors, My TurboExpress (already replaced some), My wife's monitor, and now my MK1. I figure I will order them all at once. Damn capacitor plauge!
 
What is that speaker you are using to test the amp? Speakers are not all equal and you cant assume that if its smaller it will be easier to drive. If you are getting very quiet sound its possible you have a speaker with the wrong impedance.
 
What is that speaker you are using to test the amp? Speakers are not all equal and you cant assume that if its smaller it will be easier to drive. If you are getting very quiet sound its possible you have a speaker with the wrong impedance.

It is a 8 ohm .5 w, the original is 8 ohm 2w.
 
Is that harness to the pot factory? That doesnt look right to me. I want to say that the correct harness had three wires on the pot not two.

Matt
 
Is that harness to the pot factory? That doesnt look right to me. I want to say that the correct harness had three wires on the pot not two.

Matt

This pot is good, and it worked with this post for months (since I got it) I don't have the manual right now, but it believe it only uses 2 of the pins.
 
They are both electrolytic caps. the one on top is axial (leads on each end) and the one on the bottom is radial (both leads on the same end).

(figured someone may not know that)

Anyway, you can order these from Mouser if you want. Most caps nowadays are fine.

And I didn't check out any of the MK sound threads, but I assume you first tried turning up the volume in the menu?

Also, I had an MK2 set recently that didn't play sound (even though it used to). i reseated the connectors and all of the chips and sound worked fine again...


Most caps sold in the US are fine...but not all. I recommend you don't buy Mouser's Lelon brand electrolytics...unless you plan on redoing this in 6-months.

Ed
 
Most caps sold in the US are fine...but not all. I recommend you don't buy Mouser's Lelon brand electrolytics...unless you plan on redoing this in 6-months.

Ed

That is good to know. I have free shipping from MCM, so I was thinking about buying there. What brands are made in the USA?
 
That is good to know. I have free shipping from MCM, so I was thinking about buying there. What brands are made in the USA?

Illinois Capacitor used to. Vishay used to.. Several companies used to.
But now, nobody.
Even many of the best Japanese manufacturers have moved manufacturing operations to China.

About the only thing you can do now is buy from an American or Japanese based company as they impose stricter QA standards than the ordinary Chinese or Taiwanese companies. The Chinese based companies such as Rulycon will sell you empty caps with leads if they knew they could get away with it.

Companies that I like:
Nichicon
Rubycon
Illinois (not a lot of distributors)
Richey (very few distributors, I hope to be a Richey distributor soon)
Vishay (bought out several older US companies)
United Chemicon (UCC) / Sanyo / Nippon
Cornell Dubilier (CDE) -- now owns Mallory
and
Panasonic (Matsushita)
Probably the most popular would be Nichicon or Panasonic.

Caps to avoid like the plague:
Choyo
Lelon
Licon
Rulycon (purposely spelled this way to look like rubycon)
Teapo
Luxon / G-Luxon

Caps that I avoid but don't have a bad rep:
Xicon

Ed
 
Illinois Capacitor used to. Vishay used to.. Several companies used to.
But now, nobody.
Even many of the best Japanese manufacturers have moved manufacturing operations to China.

About the only thing you can do now is buy from an American or Japanese based company as they impose stricter QA standards than the ordinary Chinese or Taiwanese companies. The Chinese based companies such as Rulycon will sell you empty caps with leads if they knew they could get away with it.

Companies that I like:
Nichicon
Rubycon
Illinois (not a lot of distributors)
Richey (very few distributors, I hope to be a Richey distributor soon)
Vishay (bought out several older US companies)
United Chemicon (UCC) / Sanyo / Nippon
Cornell Dubilier (CDE) -- now owns Mallory
and
Panasonic (Matsushita)
Probably the most popular would be Nichicon or Panasonic.

Caps to avoid like the plague:
Choyo
Lelon
Licon
Rulycon (purposely spelled this way to look like rubycon)
Teapo
Luxon / G-Luxon

Caps that I avoid but don't have a bad rep:
Xicon

Ed

Wow! That is extremely useful! I REALLY appreciate it!
 
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