Comments on: Warning on failing RIFA capacitors https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/ All about electronics and circuit design Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:57:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.14 By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1872732 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:15:30 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1872732 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5V_bgdxlUjs&pp=iggCQAE%3D&fbclid=IwVERDUAQYlW5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5f98tV1wuMP4YM01ESikh4GsVY4MgNKC_FU1Kg1F11Ld9DT2RRA5-LzDCSLQ_aem_T7tUZa0GBmHkxfLJ_z_eQQ

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1861963 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 06:12:03 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1861963 Ahh, RIFA PME271.
A classic example of how one product can ruin the image of a company.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1853003 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:31:35 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1853003 Ugh. No. NEVER these. Rifa and TDK/EPCOS do polypropylene equivalents of the exact size and leg pitch that will last a lifetime.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1853001 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:27:06 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1853001 https://hackaday.com/2023/04/01/why-do-rifa-capacitors-fail/

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1846834 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:20:52 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1846834 EEVblog #1183 – RIFA Madness (Schaffner Repair)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAbrU17hLTM

Repairing the Schaffner NSD200E Mains Interference Simulator.

EEVblog #1183 – RIFA Madness (Schaffner Repair)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7nremq

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1846833 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:19:52 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1846833 RIFA Capacitors – Quick Look at why you should remove them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6oGHZ4RG-U

In this video we briefly discuss how to identify the RIFA capacitors in older electrical equipment, show how they fail and discuss why we recommend replacing them if you find them in equipment you are repairing.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1845286 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:14:31 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1845286 Näyttää pahamaineiselle Rifa paperikonkalle, joista yleisimmin näkemäni koot on olleet 0.1, 0.22 ja 0.47 uF

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1844793 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:00:49 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1844793 Tuota Rifaa on häiriösuotokonkkana suoraan verkkovirrassa. Yleensä vikaantuminen on vain ajan kysymys missä funktion muuttujina on käyttötunnit jännitteellä, seisotustunnit, ympäristön lämpötila ja ilmankosteus, ylijännitepiikit, tuuri, AC vs DC, jne.

Tarkkoja speksejä en muista, mutta taisi olla 250V luokiteltu komponentti, mikä nyt ei oikeen jätä turvamarginaalia suomisähköillä. Mutta näitä on kyllä 110VAC maan laitteissakin paukkunut.
Aika laajasti tunnettu ja dokumentoitu ongelma, elikkäs netistä löytää videota ja tekstiä.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1822858 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 14:44:13 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1822858 They are the dreaded Rifa PME type (MEtallized Paper) class X or X2 (rated for connection straight across mains). Alternatively class Y or Y2 if they are to be connected between mains and ground. You will want to replace them with a metallized plastic foil type of the same class. The exact capacitance is usually not critical.

so i can replace it with a cap X 2

Only if it says X2 on it. If it says Y/Y1/Y2/Y3 then you need to replace it with a Y type.

Need to see the markings on the top to see whether it is an X-type or a Y-type. You need to replace it with the same type and they are NOT interchangeable. They are safety caps that are designed to fail in a particular mode, and the X and Y are opposite modes to each other.
One designed for series use in mains, and one across the mains.

Fortunately, TDK/Epcos make polypropylene X and Y safety caps that fit typical Rifa mountings, and they last MUCH longer than these awful things.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1822857 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 14:41:58 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1822857 Refuse to Implement in Future Applications

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