> > Electronics lessons to learn the hard way.
> >
> > 103.    ***NEVER*** use tantalum capacitors in other than low energy
high
> > impedance circuits if the voltage may exceed the capacitors rating for
any
> > period of time. Here the word "any" assumes the normal meaning. eg a 1
uS
> > pulse is included in the period "any of the time".
> >
> > A power supply rail is never a low energy high impedance circuit.
> >
> > 104.    *** NEVER *** listen to people trying to assure you that
> > rule 103 is
> > bunkum.
> >
> > 105    Tantalum capacitors belong to the common class of electronic
> > components which contain crisis detectors. These allow them to detect
when
> > the worst possible time to fail will be and to act accordingly.
> >


Comment on this from my friend Ken who has extensive manufacturing
experience.


> From: "Ken Mardle"
> Russell,
>
> Yes agree entirely.
>
> I have long held suspicions that tantalum capacitors were invented by the
> munitions industry and/or are manufacturing fallouts from companies
> manufacturing electrically activated fuses.  They should make excellent
> detonators.
>
> Have used tens of thousands of solid-Al (Philips 128-series) across power
> rails in industrial products over the last 15 years and NEVER had one
> instance of failure (except one customer who tried to dry out a board in a
> microwave).
>
> Regards,
>
> Ken Mardle

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