[TenTec] Orion II DOA

[Rick Williams]

Well my Orion is NOT showing signs of capacitor failure.  However, since it
is one of the original run, it might be worth doing some preventative
maintenance.  So I have decided to "treat" my baby to some updated
capacitors.

For Orion owners in Canada thinking of replacing the Power Distribution
Board capacitors, several electronic suppliers in the far north order from
Newark. 

I have ordered, through my local electronic supplier, Newark part number
18C4716.  Like the capacitors mentioned below by Ron, these are low ESR and
105C rated caps (I chose the 35VDC variety).

      http://canada.newark.com

The same part number is on the US site.

Delivery time to our local village (Victoria, BC) is anticipated to be less
than 10 days.  I too don't know if the size may be a limitation (the Newark
ones are slightly smaller in diameter - 10mm vs 13mm) but I'll keep the
reflector informed.

73, 

Rick 
VE7TK

Website:  http://www3.telus.net/ve7tk  


-------------------
Subject: 	[TenTec] Orion II DOA
From: 	"Ron Castro" 
Date: 	Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:23:47 -0700

For those of you who have been following the thread on my Orion II failure,
I 
just heard back from the factory that the problem was traced to the large 
filter capacitors on the power distribution board.  They didn't tell me over

the phone what the specific capacitors were, but there are three 470 uF
units, 
C6, C7 and C9 on the A9 board which were most likely the "usual suspects"
that 
were rounded up.

I have heard that these caps run fairly hot under normal conditions, and if
any 
of you replace them in the future, I would recommend looking for low ESR
caps 
that are rated for 105 C temperature operation.  Looking over the Mouser 
catalog, stock number 140-ESRL50V470-RC, manufactured by Xicon looks like a 
good candidate, although I don't know if they will physically fit in where
the 
originals did.  For $1.35 each, it's probably not a bad gamble to try them!

         Ron N6IE
      www.N6IE.com