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Question electronics

cloudff7

Why do some electronic devices that were working stop working if they remain unpowered for long periods? Is there an explanation for this and is it possible to avoid it?

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  • Some things I encountered with old electronics are:

    1) Oxidation on a flex cable within a DVD player

    2) Broken belts on cassette players

    3) Leadfree solder joints turning dull and brittle after 8 years

    4) A turntable belt becoming sticky like a fruit roll up over time

    5) Switches that make poor and inconsistent contact

  • in reply to dang74

     All those are common. You could also add bad caps (capacitor plague), tin whiskers and yellow glue of death.

  • in reply to anniel747

    Agreed with bad caps.  I have a C64 with a bad synch pulse and no sound.... I have not opened it up yet.... but bad electrolytic capacitors are my number one suspect all the same.... you will have to elaborate on the 'yellow glue of death' though.

  • in reply to dang74

     Also known as Sony glue disease or yellow glue disease. Over time glue turns conductive and creates shorts and fires. Common problem from the 70's right to this day.

    https://sound-au.com/articles/yellow-glue.htm

  • in reply to dang74
    dang74 said:
    bad electrolytic capacitors are my number one suspect all the same

    Easy fix.

    image

    image

  • in reply to anniel747

    Thanks for sharing the article.  Very informative.

  • in reply to anniel747

      I learned of this glue issue a few years back and was completely shocked.  It is real.  I have not seen fires, but shorts... yes.  My experience was in amateur radios - specifically Kenwoods, but I'm sure that it effects others.  Clean it out and the radio is healed.

    "Clean it out" is NOT an easy or fast process. Laughing

  • in reply to kmikemoo

     You are right. Also seen in Icom and Yaesu radios. Hi-Fi is also struck by this, Pioneer, Yamaha. I guess all japanese electronics used it at some point. Easiest way to remove cleanly is to freeze it.

  • in reply to anniel747

     I will try to remember the freezing approach.  My "one million Q-Tips" approach took forever.  I tried an Exactor knife - and had to replace the capacitor that I damaged. Expressionless  Patience is not my strong suit.

  • in reply to kmikemoo

     It also gets quite corrosive with time, your capacitor was probably already damaged.

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