From: spammenotthybadboys@yahoo.com   
      
   The Astec Power Supplies were known for being marginal.  After the first   
   smoke test many of us replaced them with upgraded supplies.   
      
   Chances are something might be causing too much current draw through   
   the capacitor. It's just going to take a lot of testin to find out what's   
   going on. Maybe the original cap is bad/weak or maybe something the supply   
   powers is drawing too much current, which causes the cap to heat up and   
   fail.   
      
   And yes... you need to keep the capacitor in place or you run the risk   
   of much more damage.   
      
   cheers,   
   s.   
      
      
   : Knut Roll-Lund  wrote:   
   : Hi   
      
   : Some time ago my Model III sent out a smokesignal and yesterday I   
   : finally got around to repair it. (I have several Model I's and a Model 4   
   : too so it wasn't a pressing matter.) It was the C2 capacitor, the   
   : special capacitor that is immediately before the rectifier on the input   
   : having 220V across. It is part of the filtering on the input.   
      
   : I did replace it because I found that I had a spare but today that one   
   : too blew. It was probably too old. Possibly I should have let it reform   
   : but it isn't a traditional electrolytic one and it has ac across it.   
      
   : First, is it possible that there is another fault which makes it burn?   
      
   : Second, is it safe to run the Model III without it? Do I risk damaging   
   : the powersupply even more or the Model III?   
      
   : --   
   : Knut   
   : (delete 'nogarbage.' for email)   
      
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