Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #38987
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Tantalum capacitors Update
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 17:49:06 -0400
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
A month or so ago (time flies  when having fun), I mentioned having a couple of PCB boards using Tantalum capacitors malfunction and one actually self-destructed to the point the PCB was charred.  A lot of discussion and comments from folks who had real-life experience with the followed. 
 
The essence was that if used properly and within designed ratings TANT capacitors had a long history of successful usage.  However, hearing that explosions and fire on rare occasion did actually occur, I decided that I personally would not want them in my design.
 
I therefore redesigned my boards for ceramic capacitors.  I am happy to say I have built 5 new boards and have not had any problem with them.  This is not to say that I hold the TANT capacitors responsible for the earlier failures, but I do know, I have not had any problems since.
 
FWIW
 
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