Replacing MLCCs with Polymer Capacitors - The Learning Circuit

[@WI9LL]

You're not Karen? I've been an Electronics Technician for 17+ years, and a Amateur Radio Operator for 4 years. I love these informational videos. They are at just the right level of knowledge to give me a refresher, and show me new(and sometimes more modern) viewpoints. Great videos, keep them up!

[@johnsonlam]

I'd like to see more video about polymer can replace electrolytic, and more in depth information about in what situation I can use polymer.

[@MAYERMAKES]

axials were intended to use with point to point wiring on solderstrips and wirewrap, the naming is similar to radial and axial blowers, the leads are attached like the stream of air would go (paralell to the axis-> axial). I opnly know that from having to remember when i studied viticulture...

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Hey what happened to Felix's voice that introduced the video

[@MikkoRantalainen]

10:50 There's still a lot of high frequency noise in the scope view. Could you add a small ceramic capacitor in parallel with the polymer cap to reduce this noise?

[@thxepsilon8292]

Excellent work, as usual. Your T-shirt, however, is insensitive to the plight of magnetic monopoles.

[@Sheevlord]

What about the ESR of the old capacitors used in C64? Also it would be interesting to see what happens if you put modern low ESR electrolytic caps into the same C64.

[@bald_engineer]

Well, the polymers are modern low ESR electrolytics. :) Modern traditional wet electrolytics will still have at least one order of magnitude more ESR than a polymer.

[@Sheevlord]

@@bald_engineer I see.

[@jasonputtock4428]

ok here is my issue. Poly versions are cheaper where i live. i have 7 blown MLCC and need to replace them. Due to my motherboard being 8 years old. I want to replace these as getting totally need items to replace board and upgrades is not an option. Can i use the poly versions to rep my mlcc versions. would this be an improvement. I dont have scopes or anything but i can solder just fine. 2700 6.3v + many 1500 10v have blow. I can find the poly versions in these just fine.

[@Made2hack]

I always replace my ceramic capacitors with ceramic capacitors but only when I need ceramic capacitors.

[@ytrew9717]

But why people put tiny ceramic caps in parallel with big electrolytes ones. I understand that small caps have lower ESR ,ESL and support higher frequency. But how it works, does the small caps delete the ESR it the big one?

[@Thecando]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@Voidsworn]

I replaced all the ceramic disk caps with comparable MLCCs in a C64, as well as some other parts with more modern ones. Unfortunately, official schematics of the C64 I have didn't actually match what parts they put in. I mean, it's great that the engineers and such used whatever they had on hand but bad for repairs. :(

[@Thecando]

What was the effect of your replacements?

[@Voidsworn]

@@Thecando Failure 🤬. I ended up getting a Sixtyclone board.

[@Thecando]

@PenutbutterJellyfishSandwich What caused it to fail? Did the MLCC have that much difference in effect compared to the dick caps? Why was the Sixtyclone so much more different?

[@Voidsworn]

@@Thecando Honestly, I have no idea. I had changed so much in my zeal that I was unable to figure it out. The Sixtyclone is just using pretty standard "default" C64 components, so there really isn't anything different from an original C64.

[@Thecando]

@@Voidsworn Thank you for the info and thank you for responding to my questions :)

[@PapasDino]

BK8540, often the most useful piece of test gear on the bench...didn't know how much I needed an electronic load until I got one! BTW, are you a ham by any chance? If so 73 - Dino KL0S

[@bald_engineer]

Sorry, not a HAM. Not yet. ;)

[@Voidsworn]

@James Lewis So, if I want to replace both the C64 linear voltage regulators with switching ones, can I likely swap out the regulators' caps with those in the video?

[@JosephLorentzen]

What wouild be the difference in surge voltage and noise just turning on the power supply?

[@bald_engineer]

Good question. I didn't explore that and now I wish I did. The lower ESR of the polymer caps may increase in-rush current which could create a larger surge when compared to the wet-electrolytic types. However, it would depend on ESL differences. Which in the case of the C64, the ESL of newer caps (wet or solid polymer) is going to be less than the original. My guess would be in the case of the Commodore, it is a wash. Also, since they are linear regulators, they'll do a decent job filtering out any surge. In the case of the DC-DC converter, it is a moot point. If used on the input side, the converter likely uses soft-start to prevent a surge or overshoot on power-on.

[@JosephLorentzen]

@@bald_engineer I play with older radios.. So that is where my question is coming from.

[@bald_engineer]

@@JosephLorentzenIn that case, I should mention that polymer aluminum does not have as much voltage surge "capability" as wet electrolyte capacitors. The polymer does not re-grow the dielectric like a wet ionic electrolyte. So if you're replacing a 25 Volt wet electrolytic, you may want to verify if you need a 35 Volt or 50 Volt polymer for surges.

[@JosephLorentzen]

@@bald_engineer Thanks, I have an old transistor table top radio it might be interesting to experiment on. It has an old brute force power supply.

[@Factory400]

I was forced to embrace polymers in most of my power electronics. The MLCC availability problem has been painful and wiped out a number of my most important designs.

[@arthurharrison1345]

2:07 - 1.8 volts out.

[@aminchawi978]

Thanks

[@cragonaut]

damping not dampening!

[@bald_engineer]

lol. Good catch. I have been saying it wrong for many years without a second thought.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

1.2V out? You mean 1.8V, right...?

[@bald_engineer]

AddOhms 1 second ago Nope. The EVM was configured for 1.2 volts. I used the schematic from the TPS's datasheet which had an example of 1.8 volts because it was easier to read than the EVM's schematic. As I showed with the measurements, the board is outputting 1.2 volts.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

@@bald_engineer Yeah, I got to the oscilloscope and saw that it said 1.2V.😅 Sorry.