[sdiy] Tantalums in general

[Scott Nordlund]

If anyone's bored, try connecting one to a bench supply and send it too much voltage, reverse polarity, etc. and watch the ensuing fireworks.  You'll probably want to do this outdoors...  It's far more exciting than blowing up electrolytic capacitors.

I don't think this should necessarily scare anyone away from using tantalums though- as far as I know they're not prone to failing due to age, unlike electrolytics.  "Marginal" design cans be dangerous, but if the ones in the CS-20 have made this long without incident, I'd guess they're probably fairly safe and fine to leave in, provided a regulator doesn't short or something.





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