I was troubleshooting a power supply ( in 1975 ) with electrolytics the siz=
e of a Red Bull can.
I had just leaned back when one capacitor ( it was installed with incorrect=
 polarity ) shot past my face ( unwinding as it went ) and hit the ceiling.=
   mama mia
gus

>=20
>=20
> On May 23, 2013, at 10:19 AM, RussellMc wrote:
>=20
>> Ceramic, tantalum (god forbid!), electrolitic, polystyrene (10uF? I doub=
t)?
>=20
> Solid Aluminum caps  (ie NOT wet electrolytics) have much the same
> characteristics as Tantalum BUT lack the fantastic flaming fun &
> furious failure mode* of Tantalum.
>=20
>=20
>     Russell
>=20
> * Best case I've seen a single tantalum cap which shrieked, then
> smoked, then smelled terrible, then flamed with roaring noise, then
> exploded. As a bonus it almost certainly shorted the supply rails.
>=20
> I saw another seriously large one in a PDP11 power supply that had had
> managed but failed to maintain a PSU short - BUT it had a hole in the
> outer metal can on one wall and a bead of metal which could be rolled
> along inside the tube but which was too large to exit the hole.
> --=20
> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
>=20
>=20

--=20
http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.