At 20:45 -0700 11/4/10, Clark Martin wrote: >On Nov 4, 2010, at 2:47 PM, Roger Pugh wrote: >> >> Is it worth storing a classic mac upside down so the electrolyte wont leak >> out of the logic board capacitors?? > >No, the electrolyte will still leak out. >And once it starts leaking you're in trouble.
It appears that the leaks, as opposed to explosions, allow acid to exit the aluminum case via the elastomeric plug that allows the two leads to get to the circuit board. Apparently a little bit of pressure permits leakage where aluminum or copper meats the plastic. High pressure due to electrical abuse will break the can at the the top, away from the circuit board, where scratch marks are deliberately made for the purpose. In either case the capacitor fails as an electrical component. But it's the effect that the spilled acid has on the circuit board that I worry about. The electrically conductive acid can be seen for centimeters around the capacitors on a board if you look closely and that's why the washing machine is often a temporary solution without changing capacitors. Storing the circuit board upside down might allow acid to flow by gravity around the outside of the capacitor and possibly drip off the end far from the circuit board. But then it's also possible that surface tension would dominate and the circuit board would be affected anyway. I think I'll turn my collection of SE/30's over until I get aroundtuit. -- --> The best programming tool is a soldering iron <-- -- ----- You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To leave this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintage-macs Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
