Re: IIc keeps tripping the circuit breaker

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

"Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
20020804021055.20520.00001864@mb-cg.aol.com">news:20020804021055.20520.00001864@mb-cg.aol.com...
> mngb123@hotmail.com replied:
>
> >Hi Tom,
> >
> >If the capacitor has gone bad, won't it take out the fuse first,
> >before tripping the breaker?
>
> Yes, it would.  And a capacitor failing to a dead short, while
> not impossible, is unusual.  Typically, a short in an electrolytic
> will result in a discharge that clears the short, and may also
> cause temperature rise and venting.
>
> >Anyways, I opened up the monitor for the first time in my life and I
> >have to say, Apple did a great job designing the it.  Just 7 screws
> >and 2 panels later, and I get to have a good look-see.  And it looks
> >like there are quite a few capacitors to replace. sigh.
>
> First, check the line cord out, before tackling any capacitors.
> (BTW, if it _is_ a shorted capacitor, the diode(s) are almost
> certainly blown--and that is not consistent with continued
> intermittent operation.)
>

I'd say that's accurate advice, Michael.   One thing- it may not be just the
capacitor, but rather that plus the circuit it is part of that is causing
the problem.  Typically an electrolytic goes bad because it is  next to a
big switching transistor that gets hot. It's part of the circuit for that
big transistor.  The transistor gets turned on real hard by the intermittant
capacitor, drawing a bunch of current, popping the circuit breaker...
-Paul