Nigel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2014
- Messages
- 16,764
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- Location
- Wales
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Dash Cam
- Gitup F1+G3ꞈꞈꞈꞈꞈ Viofo A229ꞈꞈꞈꞈꞈ Blueskysea B4K
It is the supercaps that have the problem, not "Panasonic FM 3300uF 6.3volt Radial Electrolytic Capacitors "...Those capacitors are poor quality. Any time a capacitor bulges and leaks its either under rated for power flow (6volts for 12volt circuit) or very old or counterfeit low quality copy (very common in China). That is a VIOFO manufacturing warantee issue create a Service Ticket and get a new Dashcam. If they won't do it let me know instantly.
From my A119S Troubleshooting Guide ...
Part E - Replace both Capacitors (STOP if had no experience solding)
1) with Dashcam back cover open gently detach Lens/Sensor Ribbon cable (less chance of scratching Lens)
2) remove 4 screws holding main circuit board to plastic frame.
3) gently lift top edge (sensor end) of circuit board to access reverse side of Capacitor solder joints.
4) draw diagram showing polarity of capacitors.
5) using 25 to 40watt soldering iron heat bottom joint then pull cap from opposite side to remove each wire. (experience needed)
6) trim new Panasonic FM 3300uF 6.3volt Radial Electrolytic Capacitors connector leads to same length as originals. (depending on cap thickness for bending over)
7) carefully solder each new capacitor, verify polarity position twice (warning: else caps explode)
8) verify new capacitors bend into flat position.
9) reassemble Dashcam
10) Test using Bare Bones setup in Part A
It would be a good idea to test the capacitance of the new super capacitors, especially if you are only replacing one. The most likely cause of a super capacitor explosion is that the two capacitors were badly matched and thus one of them got too much voltage. Cheap super capacitors can be very inaccurate in their capacitance value.
You can either test them with a capacitance meter / multimeter (but not all meters can manage multiple Farads), or connect them in series to 5 volts and measure their voltages (discharge them again afterwards), or measure their voltages after installation, the voltages should be roughly equal and well within their voltage rating (2.7v). It doesn't really matter what the capacitance value is, just that they roughly match so that their voltages stay within specification.