09 Sep 2003, 00:55, Wayne Chirnside (1:123/789), wrote to Jim Holsonback:

Hi Wayne.

 JH>> Hello, ALL.
 JH>> Got this email from my friend.  I've interim written to him that 
 JH>> AFAIK those bulging top caps are likely a sign of impending death, 
 JH>> but told him I would ask here.  Please advise. And, what does 
 JH>> cause those bulging tops?
..................

 WC> Cheap under rated caps.
 WC> When they blow they have a tendency to scrag traces on the 
 WC> motherboard yielding one with a paperweight. Best to spend a few 
 WC> bucks more on the motherboard and get tantalums with a couple of 
 WC> volts of leeway.

That was written by a 'dreamer' as Tantalums are not available in large
enough sizes to handle the job.  Many boards have some of both types,
Tantalums for the smaller ones (which aren't usually a problem anyway), and
electrolytics for the larger ones, which are not available in Tantalum.


     Good luck...  M.

--- Msged/386 TE 06 (pre)