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Caps - Tantalum or Electrolytes

superjer2000

Well-known member
I'm planning on recapping my Newtons and thought I'd start with my 2100.

Looking at the logic board, there are a good number of yellow tantalums.  There is only one can SMD.

What I'm not sure is if the black square caps are tantalums or electrolytics.  They kind of look like tantalums, but they also kind of look like the plastic encased electrolytics (and even have the same logo) as were in my Duo 230 LCD screen (see thread below).  There isn't much material on the net as far as I can see regarding recapping the 2000/2100 Newtons.  As an aside, I am planning on replacing the supercap on the board.  Any thoughts as to what these are?

Newton PCB.jpg



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superjer2000

Well-known member
For the yellow SMT/SMD tantalums I'd replace with same, the black tantalums due to their placement I'd replace with dipped tantalums with legs, similar to what this person has done with the LCD caps in his PowerBook 100:

https://goughlui.com/2016/09/24/repair-apple-macintosh-powerbook-100-gotta-re-cap-em-all/
Thanks - but I'm not planning on replacing the tantalum caps, I just wanted some opinions as to whether the black caps are tants or electrolytics as per the initial message, they look like the plastic encased electrolytics that are found in Powerbook screens.  If they are tantalum, I'm not going to replace.  I see they have the polarity bar marking towards the + so I'm thinking they are tants.

 

Mr SN

Well-known member
Thanks - but I'm not planning on replacing the tantalum caps, I just wanted some opinions as to whether the black caps are tants or electrolytics as per the initial message, they look like the plastic encased electrolytics that are found in Powerbook screens.  If they are tantalum, I'm not going to replace.  I see they have the polarity bar marking towards the + so I'm thinking they are tants.
Someone did a good video on repairing their newton 100 (below), and the electrolytic look like tants.   

Also good instructions on how to dissemble https://www.pda-soft.de/2x00_disassemble.html







 

Mr SN

Well-known member
Sorry, pasted wrong video above, this is the repair video where the electrolytic look like tants. 



 

superjer2000

Well-known member
Sorry, pasted wrong video above, this is the repair video where the electrolytic look like tants. 
Thanks!  That was perfect. The plastic enclosed electrolytics he noted are exactly what was in my Powerbook duo screen. I don’t see any of those in my Newton 2100 - just the traditional tants he points to. 

I’ll replace the sole SMD cap I see and the backup supercapacitor and I should be in business. 

 
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