Kinda OT but that what's true HW hacker do in a pinch.

From: jpero_at_sympatico.ca <(jpero_at_sympatico.ca)>
Date: Sat Jan 19 11:58:49 2002

> Ouch! What ever happened to user-replacable fuses to handle such problems?

Yes *there is* SMD 500mA fuse and zener diode but that is AFTER that
darned ceramic capacitor. That why wall wart died and capacitor
started to cook again starting that stink when I tried to power modem
through that shorted cap.

> Many transformers have thermal fuses designed to open the primary circuit
> under such conditions. If you can open up the PSU box, you may find a
> replacable (with soldering iron and pliers) thermal fuse on top of the
> transformer, or stuck under the tape covering the windings.

How diffcult to find this thermal fuse? This wart is hard to get
voltages w/ 16VAC. Most I see are 9, 12 and nothing of to find. I
had to make do w/ 12VAC for short term.

> Don't be tempted to short it out, especially not on something that runs
> unattended like this modem. The next time the capacitor shorts, you might
> end up with a fire...

Exactly. I have not seen *ceramic* go bad on low voltage unless
lightning did but this is in middle of winter in southeastern
ontario, no zeus lightning till summer. :-O Only time I saw one like
this was in panasonic printer and that was 12 years ago.

> Some plastic cases have a conductive (Nickel-based?) sheilding coating on
> the inside. The HP thermal printer that's currently taking up most of my
> bench does. Of course cheaper stuff tries to get away with no shielding :-(

Yes, that's right, nothing of this sort. Basically unpainted
grey plastic shells. Oh, Good Thing, maker forgot to put seal
sticker to bar me from cracking open that modem. >:-D

> -tony

Cheers,

Wizard
Received on Sat Jan 19 2002 - 11:58:49 GMT