Russell wrote

>>3. If it doesn't say Panasonic on it then there's a reasonable chance
>>that it hasn't got Panasonic in it. Farnell are reputable but bad
>>things happen. I'd check that. Really.

I need to apologise to Farnell. The caps do have the Matsushita logo.I guess 
I was expecting the name Panasonic to be splashed across them in big bold 
letters.

As Spehro has pointed out their different logos below. The second lot of 
caps I received had the third logo stamped on them and I dont remember 
exactly but I think the first lot I ordered had the first logo. So both were 
likely Panasonic caps as advertised.



Spehro Pefhany wrote

> These are also Panasonic:
>
> http://www.happytrees.org/main-images/ic-manuf-logos/ic_manuf_logo--Matsushita_Electronics_Corp.jpg
> http://www.happytrees.org/main-images/ic-manuf-logos/ic_manuf_logo--Matsushita_Electronics_Corp-3.gif
> .. latter is a bit distorted, usually it looks like this:
>
> http://media.digikey.com/photos/Panasonic%20Photos/TSUP%20SERIES%2025,35.jpg
>
> The stylized 'M' is for Matsushita, of course.



I've learned a lot from asking the question. Thanks to everyone who 
responded.

My biggest concern was that I thought the caps had failed suddenly, and I 
wanted to know why so it didn't happen again.

Now I realise they had probably been slowly dying with an increase in ESR 
... but the final stage was the overheating and bursting because of the IR 
effects from the ripple current.

I've been fixing stuff for over 30 years and I've changed 1000's and 1000's 
of electros and less than 1% would have burst like these  ...  and the ones 
that did could usually be put down to an over revving generator or short 
circuit supply diodes  ...  so this has been a real eye opener for me.

Thanks to everyone again.

Regards,   Roger

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist