LC475 Recap

[derek]

I am competent in SMD soldering, and I was thinking to recapping my LC475, has anyone done this already, and what is the best capacitors to use?

 

[Nixontheknight]

I am competent in SMD soldering, and I was thinking to recapping my LC475, has anyone done this already, and what is the best capacitors to use?

avoid cheap chinese brands. When I recapped my LC III, I used all tantalum capacitors for the logic board by Vishay Sprague, but electrolytics should work fine too. Also, don't forget to recap the power supply, use only electrolytics for the power supply. I had to have mine finished and fixed by Amiga Of Rochester because I'm crap at surface mount soldering, but if you're confident enough, I believe in you. And be careful, it's very easy to rip pads on these old boards if you're not careful

 

[imactheknife]

avoid cheap chinese brands. When I recapped my LC III, I used all tantalum capacitors for the logic board by Vishay Sprague, but electrolytics should work fine too. Also, don't forget to recap the power supply, use only electrolytics for the power supply. I had to have mine finished and fixed by Amiga Of Rochester because I'm crap at surface mount soldering, but if you're confident enough, I believe in you. And be careful, it's very easy to rip pads on these old boards if you're not careful

I use all organic polymer caps now (mouser or digikey) tantalums are ok too. Just dont use crappy caps. Also clean pads well and ise isopropyl 91-99% to clean up the whole area around caps if there is a lot of cap leakage

 

[bobcat]

If you are just doing the one computer, it's easiest to just order the pack from console5

https://console5.com/store/macintosh-performa-lc-475-575-smd-tantalum-main-pcb-cap-kit.html

They also sell cap kits for the power supplies if you need one.

I've done two 475s and they are pretty easy. While you are doing it, you can also move the resistors on the bottom to overclock it to 33 Mhz.

 

[killvore]

The LC475 rules, and you should totally recap it I've used good quality tantalums for mine. The LC form factor is super easy to work with, so if you want to feel a little extra security, you can do one cap at a time and test power on inbetween each cap removal. It takes longer, but that way if you mess something up you will know exactly which cap it was.

If you're planning to do more logic boards down the line it's probably worth buying a roll of 100 47uF 16V (or higher) caps, they're used in a ton of mac logic boards.

Also, you can replace the entire PSU with a Meanwell RPT-60A if you want to really go all in and future proof it! Here's a thread where people have done this replacement: https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/replacement-power-supply-in-quadra-605.41793/ It fits inside the casing for the original PSU so it looks exactly the same unless you open up the PSU case itself.

There is a software overclock option, so you can just run a system extension to get speeds of around 40MHz depending on stuff like your CPU, VRAM, etc! https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?thr...q605-without-soldering-or-spicy-o-clock.47946 You should get a heat sink on there if you want to run it like this, though - just make sure you get one that is low enough so you can close the top lid.

 

[Nixontheknight]

The LC475 rules, and you should totally recap it

Agreed, it is my dream Macintosh

 

[pizzigri]

I use Kemet tantalum caps, from Mouser, and rate them at 20v. If you buy in quantity it’s a lot cheaper.

 

[Jockelill]

There is a good guide here if you need:

Macintosh LC475 & Quadra 605 - Recap-a-Mac

The Macintosh LC475 (which is just a Quadra 605 in a slightly different case without a network card installed) took the 68040 CPU...

recapamac.com.au

And if you’re in the US the console 5 kits are great.