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 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:37:54 +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-1886832 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:45:41 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1886832 “In German vintage audio forums, these RIFA caps are known as “Knallfrosch”, which translates to firecracker…”

Tee hee.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2023/04/14/warning-on-failing-rifa-capacitors/comment-page-1/#comment-1886831 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:44:45 +0000 https://www.epanorama.net/newepa/?p=193634#comment-1886831 PME labeled caps were used extensively in older Tektronix switching power supplies. RIFA PME capacitors is pretty much the electronic version of Surströmming. Both come from Sweden, and both explode and stink.

]]> 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.

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