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Safety of Older Electronics

Some electronics never die. They just get moved to secondary, tertiary, etc. systems. In my case, I have two old receivers connected to televisions. I'm guessing one is 25 and the other 30 years old. The remote sensors are on all the time and occasionally one forgets to turn the receivers off. They can be replaced with relatively inexpensive amplifiers for how they're used, but I thought if it ain't broke don't fix it. At least until recently when I've started to wonder if continuing to use them is a smart idea even though there is nothing apparently wrong with them. I'm thinking in terms of a damaging (catastrophic?) failure particularly when the receiver is unattended. I'd appreciate input whether one should continue to use older equipment that can be inexpensively replaced.
zmrs13
prcinka
366 posts
 
Our lives are also irreplaceable....keep listenning and not worrying...
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Had a Sherwood receiver (1972). Thought everything was ok with it till I left it on one morning when I went to sleep after my night shift at work. The unit went into some weird oscillation mode emitting what I would consider some sort of damaging sine waves. It took out the woofers in my vintage Advent speakers. Literally twisting the voice coils in their gaps, totally destroying them. Its a good idea to have a receiver like this refurbished with critical caps and resistors replaced not to mention a complete inspection of the innards. There is a gentleman down in Texas who does this sort of work. Can't remember his name but I think his company is called Circle Audio, I think.
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
One thing that can fail are electrolytic caps.

Have them repleced and all should be good. It will probably sound better afterwards.

You might find the odd high power resistor fails also.

Every thing else should be fine.

A good tech should be able to assist for a reasonable price.

Regards.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
Vintage solid state electronics that haven't been shelved
or garaged, used regularly will last longer than ones
unused. Transistor life is endless it spans up to 60,000
hours if USED regularly which is approximately a lifetime
or longer. As to DC filter caps is basically same. They
go bad if not used.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Yes, filter caps go bad when gear is not used for a very long time because electrolyte "eats" out aluminium oxide, a dielectric, reducing breakdown voltage (presence of voltage slowly rebuilds it), but filter caps can also go bad because they simply dry out. Current heats up dry capacitor because of its increased ESR causing further increase of ESR with temperature, resulting in avalanche effect and explosion of the capacitor. Because of that electrolytic caps have either fuse (rubber plug) or weakened top (groves). In room temperature capacitor will last 40-50 years but every 10degC temperature increase cuts its life by two. Capacitors placed in hot areas, for instance close to tubes, won't last very long.
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