Swollen capacitor replacement

What causes this

Capacitors fail for a fairly small number of reasons, most of them related to age and heat.

• Normal ageing, since electrolytic capacitors have a limited working life
• Heat building up inside the TV over years of use, which shortens capacitor life
• Voltage spikes from power surges stressing the capacitors on the board
• Lower quality capacitors fitted during manufacture that fail earlier than expected

What we do

We visually inspect the power board and main board for capacitors that are bulging, domed on top or showing signs of leaking. Suspect capacitors are then confirmed with meter testing rather than replaced on sight alone, since a capacitor can look fine and still be out of tolerance. Faulty capacitors are desoldered and replaced with new components of the correct rating, and the surrounding board is checked for any related heat damage or discolouration. Display TVs left running long hours in stores and offices are especially prone to this fault, and we see it in business premises regularly.

Call-out or collect and return

Swollen capacitors can sometimes be spotted during a call-out if the fault is visible once the back panel is opened, giving a quick indication of what is wrong before any parts are ordered. The actual desoldering and replacement work needs a proper bench and soldering equipment, so if the fault needs bench repair, we collect your TV, repair it, and return it to you. Diagnosis on site tells us whether this is what your TV needs before any work goes ahead, so you are not paying for guesswork.