Electrolytic Capacitor Removal NO Desoldering Required
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- Опубліковано 5 тра 2024
- Removing surface mount electrolytic capacitors without desoldering them. This method is clean, and easier on the circuit board (in many cases) than using a heated desoldering tool for the same task. See how it's done.
- Наука та технологія
With all those electronic test equipment on the shelves, your workshop looks like something inside the cockpit of the space shuttle, or some futuristic spaceship!
Truly well done!
It adds serious cred!
@@janicehopkins4432 Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Mr. C. is just a hoarder. LOL
JUST KIDDING!!! 😁😜
Das Boot.
A great video as usual, Mr. Carlson! I have done similarly in the repair of numerous pieces of broadcast equipment, however I use a slightly different technique: It is possible to damage the traces on the PCB by just grabbing and turning the capacitor as you demonstrate. I prefer to take a small straight pair of pliers, grab the cap from above and press downward towards the PCB while turning the capacitor in alternating directions. This has the effect of pressing the plastic insulating base of the cap against the board and holding the traces and pads still while only twisting the cap itself. I was taught this method by a senior Panasonic repair technician and I can say from first-hand experience that it drastically improved my chances of not damaging the board!
+rumproast2000
Thanks for your input!
tear the track by nose plier? mechanics of tearing down.
This video plus this comment saved me at least an hour of desoldering work, Thank you so much!
@@AndreMacDowell Glad it helped! It's always worked well for me.
Makes sense!
I have been replacing this type of capacitor for over 30 years. I have always desoldered them with a fine point tip and solder wick. I am going to try this removal system. If this works it will save me time and headaches. Well done young squire. Well done.
At my early stage of learning with electronics, these are the exact type of videos that I need. Thanks!
Great tips! I have watched many of your videos... you are meticulous with your work! Your years of experience in electronic repair is really amazing.
Thanks, enjoyed the video. You are the "Alton Brown" of the electronics world. Again, thanks for sharing your time, and knowledge with us.
Please keep uploading videos! you are one of the most detailed and knowledgeable people on UA-cam. love the vids.
Beautiful! About to tackle some on a board from a tape deck so this is very helpful.
Brutal but brilliant as well. Will never forget. Thank you !!!
I really like your presentation style. Everyone should do it just this way!
This gentleman has a most helpful skillset. I find myself grateful for his generosity.
Great stuff. I've been using this method since I saw this video a few years back. Haven't had it fail yet!
Had a stubborn one stuck on a Gameboy Color, and found this video. Gave it a shot, came off flawlessly. I cannot believe I’ve spend countless years fighting these things and doing my best to avoid lifting pads when I could have just…twisted them off 🤦🏻♂️
excellent sir i always learn loads from your videos. I'm glad there's people still around who have a passion for electronics which is rare in today's throw away society
Great tip Paul! I am glad I'm not the only one who uses big irons in small places.
Thank you for this video. I used it to recap a 30 year old Macintosh IIci logic board. Worked really well with the glued on caps.
This is actually the first tutorial on the "brute force" method I trust. Thanks for the great video(s)! I'm learning a lot from your work.
thanks man! im repairing an old gamegear and my iron wattage is too low to desolder. removing them like this worked a treat.
Thank you for this video. I was able to reference it to complete my first SMD cap swap on a board. Came out great!
Never thought one could twist those caps off without ruining the PC board traces. Very nice job!!
I could almost see that board smile!
That's how happy it is from being taken care of the proper way.
Realized what you were going to do, was horrified and worried for the traces, saw how well it worked, transition to awe... NICE technique you've developed there!
Thanks Mr. Carlson, i am repairing consumer electronics and industrial stuff for many years. But I did not try this Method before. Very surprised. Big thanks for showing it 👍
Love your vids. I've never used flux, nor big tips, but as you say, whetting the tip is absolutely necessary, and you're the first guy to say so. 100 points
To be honest this guy is one hell of an electrical engineer, he could tell me the best way to remove caps is to throw the circuit board up the wall and I'd be like Ok sounds legit! lol
Thanks for demonstrating this great technique! You have a awesome show with none of the useless filler.
I'm so thankful I found this video. It did not come up when I was searching for the proper method. I P.M.'d you about my gifted radio. I've already had to repair one trace. Lucky for me, the trace was lifted with the pad intact. I can now proceed with my restoration. Thank you again Paul.
I use my cell camera on almost every repair. Good tips, I hope the younger techs are watching. Thanks.
Thank you, Paul. I had to replace the SMD caps in the head pre amps of my Sony DAT recorder and the problem was that the shield cover did not give me enough clearance to use traditional electrolytic caps. Your video gave me the idea (and courage) to use tantalum SMD caps just like you showed. I had never used these before and it worked perfectly!
Glad this helped Sieb!
copy
This will help speed up greatly the rebuilding of my repulser controls on my new Iron Man suit!
Great work. Thanks much for sharing your methods. Love all the equipment in the background.
Mr Carlson , When you are not giving us hours of enjoyable and informative videos, you are saving us hours of time with your helpful hints. >>>many thanks
Oh man in the first shot you seem like sitting in a space station or something! Awesome!
Great work Mr Carlson! I recently discovered your channel and I really appreciate the effort you put into these videos. Thanks for taking the time to share the knowledge.
Do you really use all those scopes and stuff? Just kidding - VERY useful and informative video. Great service to newbies and seasoned techs alike. Thanks!
I have 40 years of PCB restoration experience, but 90% before SMT.
Very artfully done!
Thanks so much for this video. I just came across this today. I have been working on one of these acquisition boards for the Tektronix TDS 520 and used hot air to pull the capacitors up, but had a problem with one and pulled up the trace. As a result its been on the to do list. Now maybe I can finally get it finished. Thanks again, Dave
Thanks for all the informative videos!(awesome!) as a seasoned electronics technician i have replaced thousands of these capacitors(including in Techtronix scopes). This technique seems a little brutal as it may occasionally lift pads. I have found using a set of sharp fine flush electrical cutters works very well. Lock the jaw of the cutters into the capacitor can rim near its base and chop the whole body off. It leaves a small section of the base and rubber bung which flips/pops off easily. Extra bonus is it leaves the stumps of the cap legs giving you something to grasp with a set of small pliers. Clean, reflow solder, remove pin.
cool
You also make sense. Track lift is such a pain.
I am totally in awe of the lab! I've never actually worked on this "modern" a vintage of equipment and I was rather freaked by the concept of just twisting "moderately" old parts off, but it certainly seemed to work for you. But really, I have no idea why there is an "L" in there, but it is pronounce "sod-der".
A nice, clear and short video. Very helpful, thank you for sharing.
Well, color me shocked! I would have never thought of doing it this way! Great video!
Good stuff as usual. Thanks for your hard work.
+PelDaddy
Thanks!
Nice video and nice twisting trick! Keep up your good work. One comment I have is regarding tantalum capacitor rating. It is known in the electronics industry to use tantalun capacitors that have their rating at no less than twice the expected operational voltage. With electrolytics, the operational voltage can be more like 75% of the capacitor rating. For long term reliability, maybe you were a little low on the rating of those tantalum caps. Thanks!
I used this exact method when fixing a tds520 and tds540 scope.
It worked great.
Oh WOW! Wish I knew that trick 20 years ago. Great tip. Thanks a bunch!
**Let me add a note of warning!**
I am in the process of replacing about 80 surface mount electrolytic caps on my Stabilock Si 4031 Service Monitor (communications test set) and the first cap I tried to twist off took the trace with it :( The traces on these boards are delicate and twisting is a certain path to destruction. After some trial and error the best process for removing these caps is with a hot air rework gun and the smallest nozzle. I use a dental pick or tweezers to gently pry or lift while I heat both solder pads. 327* C temperature seems to work well.
Soldering the new caps was a challenge also since the replacements covered up most of the pads. After more trial and error I found that using solder (or as we yanks say soder) paste on the pads and a long skinny tip on the soldering iron did a good job of melting the paste. I'm doing a thorough cleaning with a solvent and compressed air to blow away any un-melted paste.
73, John WB5THT
Yeah, that technique might work on high-quality PCBs used in high-end oscilloscopes 30 years ago, but try that on a modern cheap Chinese-manufactured PCB, and you'll be sorry. The hot-air gun is my first choice for removing any surface mount component.
Or an old Commodore with its crappy PCBs. Thanks, but I'll just keep using my hot air gun...
@@MrWaalkman : Funny you mention that. I just lifted two solder pads on my old C64 a couple days ago. Lol! Anyway, I can fix them, but now I'm nervous about working on this board.
@80s Guy : That sounds like a pain in the neck. :( I wish you the best of luck!
@@natgrant1364
Ouch! It's easy to do, Commodore PCBs are some of the worst for this.
And the worst part is that with the pads gone, you've now lost the ability to even mount the device. At least with through-hole you still have something to hang your part on.
I always think of the Death Star when I look at the whole lab:)
Thank you for the demonstration. A good 180 degree twist and its off. Nice!!
Simple and clean. My favourite way of dealing with electronics.
Man, it took me a second to realize you had the vacuum on a switch and that that was your desoldering tool. I was sitting there thinking "What on earth kind of industrial meshing vibrator driven soldering iron is he using?" I've been out of a real shop for too long.
Back in my day, desoldering tools had a rubber bulb you had to squeeze, and that was a step up from having an apprentice operate bellows while desoldering.
...but now you have me wondering, "How long will we have the wait before ultrasonic solder welding is invented?"
sweet lesson for someone like me. awesome man, thanks for the video!
Your welcome Joe!
Mr Carlson's Lab im watching your videos now haha. man they are great!
Glad your enjoying!
👌👌👌👌
Mr Carlson Hi,
A pleasure as always to watch thanks for taking the time to make these vids :-) I seem to be way behind everyone else bout a year on this one.
Probes came today so guess I've some playing time on my hands.
Oh watching you key your batteries for soldering the other day made me want to pass this on! Fold your sandpaper in half then half again open out and cut down one of the lines to the middle that way when you fold it back up no grit touches and your paper lasts that little bit longer, hope that makes sense!
Regards Graeme
Nice, quick, and simple. Thanks for the video!
I agree with some of the comments here. I use this same method as well and for the most part it works great however only on very well made heavy tracing PCBs like the one in this video. On thin trace PCBs the twisting effect often rips the copper trace right off the board with the caps so take heed. This is especially true with caps that have already heavily leaked, they have a tendency to corrode the trace and the bond to the pcb so they break loose very easily.
That's true. It can end in tears if the trace gets pulled off.
This guy is recording in the space shuttle 😳
Yeah... in a hollywood basement ;)
No he's rec video in kitchen too many microwave
or a sub
@Caroline Brown My guess is it's because of the capitalistic mindset, '' Upgrade your stuff when a newer version is on the market!''
@@hasanyildiz9364 isn`t capitalism more about hoarding wealth. Most capitalists are quite stingy and minimalist people. This person is very techy for sure. Engineers make good money and spend on equipment a lot too. So we tend to have a lot of stuff like this, old and new.
You are the best I’ve seen
Love the old radios you do so well
I’ve learned so much from you
Giant Thank you 🙏
Thanks for that. I've always found them to be a real bugger to remove!
Sometimes solder wick can be a bit clumsy, so make your own. A short length of 19/0.1 insulated wire stripped one end then dipped in resin flux is ideal. The bit you haven't stripped is used as a handle, and to hold the strands together. In the aviation/space industry, silver-plated ptfe insulated stranded wire is commonly used, so offcuts are easy to obtain.
I know this comment is very old, but while I do use solder wick, I do dip that into liquid flux first.
This works perfectly. You can almost hear the solder being SUCKED into the wire. LOL (ok, not really).
I use a liquid rosin flux that is so inexpensive and works perfectly. In fact, the liquid looks exactly like Mr. C is using.
Sadly, I don't have a bottle dispenser like that. I use a different method, but I think it's time to find a bottle like that or perhaps just make one.
Overall, a great method BUT, heed the warnings. If you work on Thyssenkrupp elevator boards, even those in great shape, prepare to do some pad/trace repair when using this method.
Best tip ever. Thank you for sharing.
wow, great tip. I don't know how many caps I've struggled with. I'll try it next time.
It would nice if you could show the device working after the repair... Just to create a sense of finality.
To be honest, I don't think I'd ever try that. I'd worry about lifting a pad. But hey, it seems to work great for you. I just don't have the guts to try it.
+Glenn Martin
Try it on a junk board, you may be surprised!
+Mr Carlson's Lab Paul, will do. Anyway, this video, as usual, is great. Keep it up!
what about through holes will they snap at the legs or cause trouble being twisted? I am thinking about just testing that on some junk I got but thought I could ask and save the junk for another test.
Do not try this on any consumer grade tv or stereo board. Those pads will tear right off the board and then you are desperately trying to reconstruct the circuit print, if you are lucky enough to see where it used to go.
@@AxiomofDiscord i think you would just do this with surface mounts, not through mounts
I knew a Mr.Carlson when I was a lot younger.
He was in to bicycles and was very knowledgeable.
I learned a great deal from him.
He was a great person.
Thanks so much for this tip/trick.
Without it, I would've no doubt done WAY more damage to the board.
-You're the man.
That's one clever way of replacing caps without leaving a trail of destruction.
until you destroy pads
Yep, I wouldn't do this method due to high risk of lifting pads. Best to use Soldering Tweezers.
I have employed a mostly similar method, though rather than twisting completely in one direction, I "gently" twist the cap back and forth until the leads become brittle and snap. I *think* it's much less stressful on the traces - it certainly feels like less force is being used.
It also stresses the pad. Every change of motion increases the chance of the pad/trace coming off the board. Grab the cap from the top and push down towards the board as you're rotating.
Thank you for advice, I was doing the same when scavenging for parts, but never thought to use it instead of desoldering.
If you're scavenging parts, you don't want to use this method, it destroys the part, which he's replacing because it's bad, while preserving the circuit board. If you're throwing the board away, and keeping parts, this is NOT the method to use!
Nice tip!! Another great video, thanks for all the hard work you do.
To the naysayers: Depending on the equipment you use this may be a safer method. Whether or not your PCB pads will lift when you do this depends largely on your ability to keep yourself from pulling the part "up" from the board. In my experience PCB pads can withstand a lot more shear force (pulling across) than tension (pulling up) or torsion (twisting the pad itself). The amount of torsion that is applied by this method is determined by the spacing between the capacitor leads and is lower for small caps. When one tries to heat one side of a cap at a time and rock it side to side, they inadvertently use the cap as a lever to pry the colder pad up from the board.
Thanks that's a good tip!
I notice that all the seasoned engineers are nervous about the tracks lifting. You need to say a prayer first! I noticed a tip that involves cutting the can off with snips. May be the way to go?
@@berryj.greene7090 I've had bad luck cutting SMT capacitors. The bulk of material is sometimes separated by a gap from the base of the cap. Cutting them can wedge the cutters between the material and the base and pull straight up on the pad. Depending on the type of cap and the case the bulk can be squishy compared to the stiff board and add to the problem. In the rare occasions I've got to cut a component I use a grinder wheel on a dremel and do it outside. Grinder wheels can snag and can do more damage than a lifted pad.
I know this video is to demonstrate a technique, not equipment, but I almost always use a hot air system to pull SMD's in real life unless it's just a prototype board that I will end up tossing. Even if I have to desolder a nearby component or something falls off the opposite side using heat saves me more time overall.
That's really slick never thought of doing that. Thanks for sharing.
+ChuckyGang I'm sure you've give that a try once or twice.
+ChuckyGang that your opinion. I think Mr Carlson is a really smart guy. That appears to work so why knock it if there's not any damage.
+ChuckyGang look to me like there wasn't any problem with the traces lifting off. Be faster way he's doing it.
+ChuckyGang watch it again and listen carefully what he says at the beginning that should be enough said.
His first words are "Hi there! And welcome to Mr. Carlson's Lab.... I don't understand??? Is this not Mr. Carlson???
This is the same method our engineers used in removing caps in VTRs at a tv station. There were so many vtrs and they were changing caps all the time. This was a very easy way to do it.
I have never used that technique, but it looks like it works well. I knew electrolytic capacitors did not age well but I had no idea of the extent of the problem. At work we moved on to newer equipment before the caps failed.
I'm really surprised you get away with that. I've 2orked on boards for 40 years and never tried that. I will tomorrow on a scrap board.
Very nice and useful tip. Thank you very much.
+esmaeil nam
Thanks!
Excellent video! with all that equipment around you, looks like your sat onboard the ISS!
Love the way you explain things
I have made a number of videos on this topic. I always find that some of the lesser quality consumer boards that I get for replacing SMD caps, I am never able to use this method without damage. The boards are always to frail or corroded from the leaky caps. I am always afraid I will pull the pads and have to a pad repair which I have had to do on some really corroded pads. To be safe I use a pair of hot tweezers and I can move along at a good speed. Yes the nasty smell does happen lol..
+Kev31779
I have those hot tweezers on my OK industries (Met-Cal) station. If the board is badly damaged by the electrolyte, I will use them. I have worked on many consumer grade circuit boards using this twisting action with good luck.
Mr Carlson's Lab This Tektronix board could probably take a couple of hits with a hammer, but this video is getting a very bad rap in some retro electronics groups where older and cheaper computer boards will almost always be damaged this way.
yeah. i'd dare not do this on an amiga 1200 motherboard for example.
You would be surprised at how sturdy they can be. I have recapped both of my Amiga 1200's this way and not lifted a single pad. The pads came out like new after cleanup. On the other hand I have also tried the hot air rework station and lifted several pads. I think the tweezers method is probably the safest for boards that may not be robust enough.
Super stuff for a 47 year old wanting to take up what I dropped at 14.
never too late to unravel these mysteries, I am 67
You must of dropped it cuz you were too stupid to do it correctly
Y'all bunch of old farts..... I just turned 40 :(
24 to 49 for me. I rediscovered interest thanks to ATmega microcontrolers and the ease of going from schematic to Kicad, to online ordering of my own production PCBs.
I'm 62 and been struggling a bit.
Thank you Mr. Carlson. I tried it and it worked like a charm!
I've watched a number of your videos. You rock!!! I wish I had you as an electronics mentor when I was studying electronics in High School 40 years ago.
Thanks James!
Hi, can I suggest that you do what I do when doing capacitor replacement, use your phone to take a picture of the PCB BEFORE removing the caps.
You will need a reference to the polarity/orientation of the removed devices as some PCB overlays, if they have one, do not show component polarity.
Tom..
Yep, photos and notes help a lot, especially with PC Mobo manufacturers "drawing" the reversed polarity on the PCB ;) Plus, one less thing to remember.
A great way to disrupt pads. I like the method with two soldering irons.
Thank you! I've been procrastinating the repair of a SlingBox for this very reason. I didn't know how to replace the surface mount electrolytics without harming the board.
Great stuff. I learned something today! Thanks for sharing.
when the image of the video came in I thought you were inside a spaceship lol
very old Russian spaceship
...... Glad you're not a dentist !
LOL!
You'd make a better dentist than that weirdo with the Fred Flintstone fingers I used to see.
Rob Robbie Yes, as everyone knows, teeth require a much more aggressive flux and larger desolder pump. lol
I had a dentist like that as a kid. I had two teeth growing in at the same place. He was looking at them and then all of a sudden RIP! He just grabbed the top one and twisted it out.
He said the other one would grow back into the correct place. It never did.
if he is dentist patient's teeth will be extracted off no root canal necessary at all !
Great tutorial. Just Recapped an SE/30 logic board and removing the old SMT electrolytics was a snap.
Thanks!
LOL, I see what you did there. Glad the video helped!
Great tips! Amazed by the amount of hardware in the end, it looks like the insides of a space station :D
Another great video - but I mostly just come to hear you say "sol-der". :)
He is moron.
That's how you're supposed to say it. I guess the only country in the world who thinks it's pronounced "Sodder" also still uses inches and fractions. Bizarre.
2:19 My mistake, I thought you were going to salvage the caps, not simply remove them
Exactly what I had thought. Then, I was like, "Oh, he's replacing caps. Of course you toss the old ones."
Good tips. I also like to clean the are when I'm done with some ipa or flux cleaner. Not really necessary when using no clean flux but it just looks cleaner.
Terrific Tip! In learned something new! Much easier than trying to unsolder these components. Thanks.
When I read the title I thought you were removing radial caps without desoldering, and so I clicked the video. Ha.
Me too. I thought I could test them and put them back without breaking out a gun...lmao.....
You look like you're inside Nostromo.
Tantalum is some high dollar metal! I've machined on a tantalum nozzle before , had to repair the threads on it and was told DO NOT MESS IT UP! I almost galled the threads together! Talk about a tense moment but I was able to get it out
You're a good teacher, I took electronic when I was a young man but, end up beeping a electrician, but love electronic because you see magic preformed, by the way my teacher teach was discouraging you're good thanks will watch more
Video starts at 1:47
No, it starts at 0:00.
Safer to use a hot air station...if you have one off course.
I think it is a very bad idea!!! As I know it is very dangerous to desolder electrolytic capacitors with hot air. They can explode and injure you!
Colibri n
Just chop the top off with cutters or stab the top so no pressure can build on them. Ones not coming off cover with a foil shield so they dont get hot.
Wow-what so easy way. Thanks, Engineer.
Watching from Ethiopia