[sdiy] tantalum

[GothGeek Sysadmin]

On Thu, Jan 31, 2002 at 11:30:23PM -0500, harry wrote:
> I've never seen the little cross in the top of the cans blow open. The
> vent is at the bottom... and usually the whole can gets launched as
> one piece.
> 
> Is that what the cross is really for ???

Actually, its so they'll tear open like a Black Talon bullet so it can get
through your safety glasses.

I had a 10000uf filter cap go off like that once.  Usually they have a little
relief valve next to the terminals but this was a large PC board mount 
Panasonic with the Patented Flesh Tearing Crosshatch on the top.

I wondered about two things right after it went off:
  1. Have they tried lauching satellites on one?
  2. What idiot hooked up that Bridge Rectifier backwards?

The idiot was much more carefull the next time and in fact still has all his
fingers so he can type this...

-- 
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 - Tom Arnold -       When I was small, I was in love,                  - 
 - Sysabend   -       In love with everything.                          -
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