Re: Turn on Apple to preserve it?

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

JK wrote:
> (from sci.electronics.design )
> "
> The electrolytic capacitors go bad in perhaps as few as 10 years if
> they are not powered on from time to time.  The nonconductive surface
> on the aluminum electrode can gradually erode away.  Under bias, this
> doesn't happen.
> "
>
> If this is true, does this mean powering an A2 up from time to time 
> helps the aluminum capacitors stay healthy?

Right.  In fact, powering up *anything* electronic at least every few
years, for a half-hour or so, helps keep its electrolytics healthy.

Of course, some electrolytics are more prone to deforming than others...

One way to go easier on possibly deformed electrolytics is to disconnect
the power supply connector from the Apple main board, then plug the
line cord into a Variac (variable transformer) and slowly increase the
voltage from about 10v to 120v in 10 volt increments over an hour
(about every 5 minutes).

This will re-form the electrolytics in the 120v section of the supply,
which is the biggest source of problems.

The low voltage part of the supply will attempt to regulate and fail
until the input voltage rises above some threshold, but that shouldn't
be a problem under no-load conditions.

-michael

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