23-11-2018, 06:10 PM
You mention paper dielectric, Mike, but I wondered if there were electrolytics in there? If there were and the leakage current increased, they can heat up and generate a lot of internal pressure. If there is no way out, that would account for it.
I once saw an excellent picture in an American book of a TV with a wrap-round cabinet which had been running on soak test for an intermittent problem. What wasn't realised is that the set had started blowing fuses and the owner had simply increased the fuse value until the problem stopped!
Eventually, so much pressure built up in the leaky main smoothing that it exploded - the can had punched a neat round hole in the top of the cabinet and had embedded itself in the ceiling tiles!
I once saw an excellent picture in an American book of a TV with a wrap-round cabinet which had been running on soak test for an intermittent problem. What wasn't realised is that the set had started blowing fuses and the owner had simply increased the fuse value until the problem stopped!
Eventually, so much pressure built up in the leaky main smoothing that it exploded - the can had punched a neat round hole in the top of the cabinet and had embedded itself in the ceiling tiles!
