Fixing an Internet connected socket.

Lots of learning from this one. Thanks Clive.

Clive, the low lifetime rating of electrolytic capacitors usually stems from the fact that this is the rating at their maximum temperature, with maximum ripple current. So basically a worst-case value. In an application with reasonable derating, this is much higher :)

Interesting explanation of the requirement for low ESR capacitors, I always assumed it was because of the hight frequency but nice to get it comfirmed

Phil Collins

That "Random direction" just helped me work out how to repair my Bass Guitar amp. It has a quietly annoying hum!

mikenco

Yeah. I have zero faith in IOT devices being 100% secure. Even with honest intentions of the programmer they are using bloated libraries with unknown weaknesses. It reminds me of the wifi routers that had glaring back doors and ended up with externally loaded malware on them.

Big Clive

don't stop showing the repair Clive, it's quite soothing watching and listening to you while you work..

Richard Boyce

This always used to frustrate me a lot - you could see a need for a device but it was so hard to achieve it because you had to build it yourself from scratch. Worse still, those people who said at the time "what would you need that for" are the ones now buying them off the shelf and telling you about this useful new thing they found! Thank goodness it's becoming much easier and cheaper to get hold of parts, microcontrollers, datasheets and the like, so that it's no longer such a huge issue to build what you need when buying it isn't yet an option!

Berkeloid

Many years ago before the whole IOT thing, I needed a couple of these for power cycling remote computer equipment in the mountains if it froze (sometimes literally). Such devices were really uncommon for less than many $100's, but found some on eBay out of Hawaii. They had a very basic web UI but did have some advanced features like network monitoring guarddog, could set it up to probe a TCP socket and if it didn't get any response after the defined number of tries, it would power cycle the equipment. It's funny now as you can pick things up like that now at any home center, control it with a smart phone from anywhere, and use it with a load of different automaton services.

Kadah

It should be noted that these cheap “IOT” devices are often horribly insecure, never patched and sometimes not able to be patched. If you can, isolate the thing on its own network and/or don’t let it talk to the public internet, depending on device and usage case.

I should have stressed that. The paralleling is just for a quick test.

Big Clive

I'd keep the one closest to the transformer as close as possible, but they could be relocated a bit. I would even consider using a lower value capacitor to up the voltage rating, as the unit only draws about 250mA.

Big Clive

I guess I'll be the one to say it. PLEASE...If you parallel a new cap with an old one, PLEASE disconnect the good one as soon as you've verified the bad one. If you're troubleshooting a valve (tube) type radio, for instance, the bad cap can "influence" the good one (Google ESR), and destroy an output transformer, or power transformer. Old caps typically turn into resistors, and that's why they're a problem. Oh BTW, Clive, it's pronounced "router". You're welcome. Cheers, Mate!!

Chuck Kirchner

Scots and Brits say rooting not routing. Only American arrogance could possibly compel you to make such a comment.

If one was stuck using the larger capacitors, would there be a penalty incurred for extending the wires to allow for mounting someplace inside where there might be more room?

Michael Thompson

We call them routers (with an ow sound) because they find a route (with an ow sound) to the Internet. Roots are not involved in the process!

Wolf