In message <009001bfafb6$6189e940$1400a8c0@markslaptop>,
meskeels@earthlink.net writes
>At last! Something I can contribute..
>
>During the '70's I worked as a production line tech at a large midwest audio
>equipment company. One day one of the techs was testing 300 w 70V power amps
>for sound reinforcement and suddenly "BOOM"; a large explosive sound
>emanated form the end of the line where the tech was. Upon rushing down
>there, we found the tech covered with sticky white fibers. One of the large
>power supply caps for the linear bipolar power supply had been installed
>backwards. Fortunately, when the vent let go, he was mostly out of the line
>of fire...

Many years ago I repaired an old B/W TV (early 60's vintage), the main
electrolytic (a large multi-section type) had 'exploded'. This
particular capacitor was mounted horizontally on the chassis, fastened
down by a metal clamp, with the terminals facing towards the rear of the
set. The force of the capacitor 'venting' forced the back off the TV
(with loads of 'paper' forced through the ventilation holes in the back)
and the reaction slid the capacitor forwards (despite the clamp) with
sufficient force to crumple the can against the CRT!.

BTW, there has been a lot of discussion about tantalum capacitors in
this thread, in the mid 70's these were quite commonly used in colour TV
sets in the UK - they had an amazingly high failure rate, with de-
couplers often going S/C and being very hard to find which one it was
that had failed :-(.
--

Nigel.

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