Kill-A-Watt power meter repair: Bad X1 capacitor → dim display & false readings

[@JM-ql4ok]

This ended up fixing mine. Luckily I had a 0.47uF X1 cap in a box of electronic scraps. Thanks alot!

[@quetzal4042]

Great. Must have been a bad lot of capacitors. Thanks for commenting.

[@paulmathus]

Thank you, great video! I had checked fuses but wasn't sure where to look next. Replaced with a 0.47 x2, had to use alternative hole spacing. Five minute fix brought it back to life.

[@quetzal4042]

Great. That makes at least 4 people with the exact same problem, so definitely a bad batch of capacitors. Hate to think how many of these things went into the trash when they stopped working, surely 90% of people wouldn't even consider attempting a repair. Thanks for commenting.

[@mikereynolds3716]

I was also able to find a donor board to grab the part from. Interesting find on this. I have never had one of these parts fail before. Thanks for your post!

[@quetzal4042]

Must have been a bad lot of X1 capacitors in that production run. Dave Jones at EEVblog has an interesting video on safety capacitor failure. He interviews a production engineer who says it has nothing to do with surges, it's all about failure of the seal and moisture getting inside: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5zTZnWlp66ila8 Thanks for commenting.

[@louf7178]

Thanks for the DigiKey link.

[@quetzal4042]

Let's hope it's a little more durable than the original. Thanks for commenting.

[@louf7178]

@@quetzal4042 I can't remember what mine wasn't doing, but since replacing the capacitor, it displays and seems to measure reasonably. If these safety capacitors wear this quickly, I can see why these meters aren't warranted too long, LOL. Thanks again.

[@MrHaney-g1d]

Thanks sir! Great video. Fixed mine.

[@quetzal4042]

Great. Glad to hear it. Thanks for commenting.

[@Hamchuck112]

Thanks. I just ordered a 5pk of capacitors for $6 on Amazon. We'll see if that fixes it. I can't read the display on mine.

[@quetzal4042]

Good luck with it, let us know if that does the trick. Thanks for commenting.

[@awood27]

Thanks for the great video. I suspect I have the same problem, but unfortunately the capacitor you linked to is out of stock. Can you recommend any compatible alternatives?

[@quetzal4042]

Here's about the closest I could find: www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/wima/MKX14W34706B00KSSD/11314395 Exact same dimensions and ratings, different manufacturer. Here's another very similar: www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/kemet/R474R347050A1K/6228752 It's about a millimeter taller but probably will fit. In principle, any O.47 µF film capacitor with an X1 rating that will physically fit and has compatible mounting centers would be fine. Let us know if it solves the problem. Thanks for commenting.

[@smtkumar007]

i have a similar kind of meter (a white one) with power cost configuartion and all , and it was not used for over 2+ years , then when i plugged it in ,it had no display.. i opened up and saw a 3.7v battery , i bought a replacement and the display turned on , but when i connected the load, meter didn't shows any reading , plus when i took the reading using a voltmeter , i found 16v ac on the sockets instead of 240v ac.. any guess of what might have failed?

[@quetzal4042]

I think usually there is not much between the plug (AC in) and the socket except a shunt to measure the current and a fuse. Seems most likely it would be the fuse.

[@marka1986]

If you have some newer scrap boards or old computer power supplies , that's a fairly common value in the line filter circuit. Those are safety caps as well. Over the years have saved the power boards from flat screens and very handy for parts

[@quetzal4042]

Good suggestion but my collection of old circuit boards is pretty slim. Thanks for commenting.

[@williamallsop1890]

There is a fuse on the circuit board

[@own8827]

Big fan here, I have some questions on my mind? Can I Ask?

[@quetzal4042]

Of course. I try to answer all comments.

[@own8827]

​@@quetzal4042 Thanks for the reply, Have some Business related, Can we talk by mail?