Non Model "A" Electrical Question

C

Colonel Biggs

Senior Member
I need to test the capacitors in my HP printer/scanner. Because there are about ten of same, I would prefer not de-solder each one and then test. However, to test them in circuit, I believe that I need an ESR meter. Fluke, for example, sells them, but their meter prices are in the hundreds of dollars. I am hoping that there is someone on the board who is also relatively expert in electronics. There must be a cheaper meter that will enable me to get the job done.

This is obviously a break from my Model "A" duties. But, I'm hoping that there is a restorer out there who has been through this drill.
 
I am a retired copier- printer service technician. I have never had to test capacitors or seen a bad one in a copier or printer. Why do you think that they need to be tested?
 
How old is the printer? Can type capacitors do break down over time. Printer companies can give you a printer for 0 cost to them and make their profit off the ink they sell. Saw a new HP printer a Walmart yesterday for $24.00. Not worth the time and effort to repair the old ones. We got tired of paying over $60.00 for printer cartridges about four times a year and purchased a Epson Tank printer. High initial cost, but will print 6500 pages on the ink supplied and new ink bottles are about $13.00 each.
 
Capacitors need to be tested removed from the circuit. For a lot less than the price of a decent tester (that you wouldn't use a lot) you can replace all the caps you suspect. Of course, I mean the through-hole type; the surface-mount boards are intended to be throwaways. Swollen caps often mean something else in the circuit has drifted out of spec with age. May be time for a new printer.
 
Thanks for the posts. I enjoy keeping printers viable. And, you're on target when you say the inks are where the manufacturers make their profits! Capacitors do need to be taken out of the circuit, if volt/ohm/capacitance meters are used; maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age (or looking for a new type of meter to play with...).
 
You can check caps in a circuit if you have an ESR meter. A bulging cap is not a good sign. This is a good site to read.
https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Troubleshhoting_logic_board_components

My disdain for printers is to walk right out to the dumpster with a problematic one. I use laser color printers but you still have to deal with toner and drums on them so they aren't much better. My Brother has been hanging in for several years but I don't hold my breath. There is always a new one that will work for a while. I use my old capacitance meter to check new condensers. It's an old one with the eye tube.
 
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Place the printer in your Model A, drive 10.3 miles, no more no less, if your Model A runs good during this test phase your printer capacitors are good.
Is there nothing a Model A can't do?
 
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