ESC cap question

[kwiktsi]

Well, this has not been my week for ESC's.. After about 5 years of running my BK Bandit, the caps let loose on the Jeti ESC today. The ESC still functions, but the caps popped. Don't know if it was just age or if it was because I was using my truggy packs which have leads that plug directly into the pack with 4mm bullets. Just in case, I don't think I'll use these packs in the boats any more just to be safe.

Anyway, the ESC still works so I was just going to replace the caps. I have an Etti cap board here as well. Can I just remove the caps completely from the ESC and use only the external board? I'm thinking yes as it will still do the same thing, but wanted to verify. Thanks.
Joe

[tlandauer]

Paging drwayne...
meanwhile,
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...emptive-answer

[kwiktsi]

Wow, did not see that one when I was searching. Thank you, some good information there.

[kwiktsi]

OK, now I'm more confused.. Just read through more of that thread- the first post, drwayne said not to remove the originals and to replace if bad before adding a cap bank. Then in post #36, he says to replace them OR remove completely provided you add extra close by.

[Fluid]

Caps are an expendible item and should not be expected to last forever. From OSE:

It is generally reported that capacitor failures can be attributed to:
1) Heating, causing a capacitor to swell and explode.
2) Drying of the liquid electrolytic inside from various causes, such as defects, leaking and even cleaning.
3) Capacitors re-form over time to meet a usual and expected voltage. Surges that are not normal can cause sudden failure.
4) The older they get the greater the incidence of failure.
5) High-current motor setup will tend to kill the caps quickly (because of the large voltage changes.)

[tlandauer]

It's been a while, I re-read post #36, I think the point is that if you can put extra ones real close by, it is ok, but if the cap pack (bank) is tethered even a few inches away, might be better to replace the original ones and then add the pack.
I must say I am not sure, since I almost use the Seaking 180 ESC exclusively, it is relatively easy to yank the original ones out and replace them, never really considered your option. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

[kwiktsi]

Caps are an expendible item and should not be expected to last forever. From OSE:

It is generally reported that capacitor failures can be attributed to:
1) Heating, causing a capacitor to swell and explode.
2) Drying of the liquid electrolytic inside from various causes, such as defects, leaking and even cleaning.
3) Capacitors re-form over time to meet a usual and expected voltage. Surges that are not normal can cause sudden failure.
4) The older they get the greater the incidence of failure.
5) High-current motor setup will tend to kill the caps quickly (because of the large voltage changes.)

I agree. I just didn't know if it was age that finally caught up with them (they are at least 6 years old) or the batteries since it was pretty coincidental that the first time I used those packs in this boat, this happened. Thanks!
Joe

[kwiktsi]

It's been a while, I re-read post #36, I think the point is that if you can put extra ones real close by, it is ok, but if the cap pack (bank) is tethered even a few inches away, might be better to replace the original ones and then add the pack.
I must say I am not sure, since I almost use the Seaking 180 ESC exclusively, it is relatively easy to yank the original ones out and replace them, never really considered your option. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

That's kind of what I am gathering from it as well. I can change them no problem as well, but need to order more heat shrink for the ESC. I was hoping to just snip the leads and remove the old ones without removing the heat shrink and just add the bank for simplicity's sake, but it's not the end of the world either way :). Thanks.
Joe