Re: [LAU] OT: Behringer PSU UB-SPSU2 for an Eurorack UB2442FX-PRO

On Tuesday, May 08, 2012 10:32:50 AM Ralf Mardorf did opine: Using its age as a clue, I think I would be gong through it with a "Capacitor Wizard" checking the caps in the psu in particular. I haven't a clue what it may be called on your side of the pond though, so I will describe what it does in hopes it might be recognizable as a euro made and named testing device. It is a small, low power oscillator, generating about 85 millivolts of rf signal, at a nominal frequency of 100 kilohertz, the currant it can send through a capacitor is presented on a meter, usually calibrated with a knob so that it reads full scale when the probes are shorted together. At 100 kilohertz most power supply and coupling capacitors should be quite close to a dead short, a full scale meter reading if they are good, but older caps tend to suffer from poor connections internally between the leads you solder into the circuit, and the actual aluminum foil of the capacitor's plates. This test device measures this failure mode, usually displaying it as ohms. Its called the capacitors ESR, Equivalent Series Resistance. Any reading above 2 ohms is generally grounds to warm up the soldering tools and replace that capacitor. This tool costs about $175 on this side of the pond, overpriced considering what is in it, but he also has a patent on it. I did, when I googled for it, come across a DIY site that had built one, and has schematics, but no 'kits' for sale. This, quite frankly, is an empty spot in the techies tool arsenal that someone familiar with e.a.g.l.e. might well be able to fill as the US patent (I haven't checked) should be about to run out. The pcb would be close to the most expensive part in it, and while I could probably make it on my milling machine, that would be a one-off for my own use because the time involved to do so would, at a tenner an hour, be several hundred because of the time to make a palette to hold the board blank precisely enough to cut & drill double sided, plus the sensor tools to auto set the etching tools height dependably took no little thought and imagination. The sensor stuff I wouldn't have to re-invent for the next project though. If it worked, then I would send the eagle files to someplace in china for 100 pieces. But marketing costs, for the number sold would likely remove any profit at $100 USD/copy. Far better to put a link to a blurb about it on my web page in the sig and maybe just sell it as a DIY $50 kit. Having a spare for that sort of thing is a good idea. Asking if it will fail is like asking if freshly poured concrete will crack. The "if" is wrong, the correct word is "when", because it will, always. :) Good luck Ralf. Cheers, Gene -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page: <http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene> <dark> Culus: Building a five-meter-high replica of the Empire State Building with paperclips is impressive. Doing it blindfolded is eleet.