Powerbook 100 - factory polymer caps?

[JC8080]

The Console5 cap kit for the PB100 says there are 6 caps that are polymer caps from the factory and do not need to be replaced, so they are not included in the recap kit. Looking at my board those specific 6 caps don't look any different from regular electrolytic caps. My experience with modern polymer caps is they do look identical to electrolytics, except the markings on the top are a different color. I know this may well not always be the case.

Can anyone confirm if these caps on the PB100 are actual polymer and not electrolytic? The first pic below is taken from macdat.net, the second is my board. The Console5 wiki (https://wiki.console5.com/wiki/Macintosh_PowerBook_100) indicates that the five green 47uf 16v and one white 4.7uf 50v caps are the polymer caps.

 

[Pilgrim33]

I'm not sure whether they are polymer, but I replaced all of the caps on the board (and the LCD). My PB100 went from not working at all to working great!

 

[JC8080]

I'm not sure whether they are polymer, but I replaced all of the caps on the board (and the LCD). My PB100 went from not working at all to working great!

My first PB100 I replaced all the caps. I didn't read the info with my Console5 kit closely and didn't realize it did not include all the caps, so I ended up having to find the others somewhere else. Replacing all the caps did fix that machine.

I guess we'll see if replacing all the caps except the questionably-polymer caps will bring this one back to life.

 

[ObeyDaleks]

The only way to know for sure is to take them apart and inspect under a microscope. I also replaced all the caps on mine. I order all my caps from mouser and usually order extras. Although, if I remember correctly, I did see some cap corrosion under and around the caps in question.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

The only polymer caps I know of that were made during this time were the Sanyo OS-CON caps, which are purple and labelled "OS-CON" on the side. These are also always through-hole radial. One of the caps on the PB100's inverter board is polymer. I also suspect the 4.7uf 50v SMD cap on the motherboard may be polymer since it's of similar color to "OS-CON Purple" and didn't seem to be leaking at all on my 100. Don't know that for sure though.

What is definitely true is that console5 is wrong on the 47uf 16v caps being polymer. They are electrolytic and leak. They also list both the inverter board caps as being polymer - this is also incorrect. One is polymer, the other is an electrolytic.

Edit: It also appears your board has a different 4.7uf cap from my board, since the coloring on it appears to be black just like the rest of the SMD caps. Mine was a light blue color as you can see in my cap reference photo.

 

[finkmac]

i would not trust console5 over community-specific sites.
trust what your eyes see, and what people have documented on places like macdat.

 

[JC8080]

I definitely should have looked at the board more closely before I ordered the cap kit. If I am going to recap a machine and am buying other components at the same time I go through Mouser or DigiKey, usually if I am recapping a machine and not buying other components I use Console5 since it is easier and shipping is cheaper. I will definitely pay more attention in the future. I don't think I have any spare caps, and if I do they are electrolytics, so this one is going to go on the shelf for a while until my next parts order.

 

[imactheknife]

As far as my experience goes with these pb100’s is that they are all electrolytics and all leak. I have had to clean all pads and holes on various machines. I have had beef’s in the past with console 5 over stuff like this.