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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
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
O_holter, romm temperature is around 20degC. It is hard to tell what is lifespan of the cap since different companies put different numbers. I would assume >50 years in 20degC. Capacitor will fail only if you leave it unpowered for many years. Cold capacitor has lower ESR.
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o_holter
977 posts
 
Yes I realize. It can be tested but a lot of work. My experience as a user is that the hotter the box, the greater the need for regular service. Although I have had some great exceptions too. The Krell FPB600 amp ran very hot, in periods, when I played loud music, over twelve years use, and never showed any sign of failure.

So, if it is difficult to make a general rule, service after five, ten or fifteen years, based on temperature in the chassis - perhaps a better way to go, is through the symptoms of aging equipment? What are the typical signs of caps and other parts that are no longer performing optimal?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Dry power supply caps have high ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance). First symptom is loss of bass tightness/dynamics. I've seen (in commercial equipment) cap that was bulging (placed next to hot transformer).
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o_holter
977 posts
 
Thanks, very useful. Other symptoms to look for?

Czarivey, I have experience with old amps that confirms the rule, dont leave them off for years, that you mentioned above. Like my Revox A78 amp. It always played decent in the 1970s, was left off for ten years after being replaced by a Yamaha amp in 1985, but when I brought it to a friend's cottage, to try out among other amps, fifteen years later, it just did not sound at all, the music was clearly wrong-sounding. So I had to pack it away, a bit embarassed. The Yamaha amp, on the other hand, having been used off and on for fifteen years, required service in the late 90s, but the loss of optimal sound was much more graceful, not catastrophic as in the Revox case.
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