Capacitance - Capacitors As A Cause Of Electronics Equipment Failures

Failed capacitors are a common cause of electronic-equipment breakdowns. When a capacitor's dielectric is destroyed the resulting short circuit may cause other components to fail. Capacitors also develop open circuits, causing the loss of the capacitance.

Electrolytic capacitors are generally less reliable than other types, a tradeoff made to secure very-high capacitance in a small package. They tend to fail if stored without a voltage across their terminals. The electrolytic paste may dry in time, causing a loss of capacitance. Experienced electronic technicians consider electrolytic capacitor failures as a likely cause of an equipment fault that is not otherwise immediately obvious.