How long do monitor capacitors last?

Monitor capacitors are one of the most critical components of a monitor’s internal circuit.

They are responsible for ensuring that the voltage supplied to the LCD panel is stable and safe and that the monitor will not function without them. 

In this post, I will discuss how long monitor capacitors last.

Let’s get started!

How long do monitor capacitors last?

Monitor capacitors are usually in the form of electrolytic capacitors, and these capacitors can last from 5 to 7 years and even a decade.

Do monitors have capacitors?

Yes, Monitors do have capacitors in them, and monitor capacitors are a crucial monitor component.

Monitor capacitors are electrical devices that store a charge. They are used in most electronics and are found in most monitors.

They are usually connected to the AC power cord that goes to the monitor and is charged by the power source’s electrical current. 

When a monitor is turned on, the capacitor is discharged and provides power to various electrical components of the monitor.

The capacitor also includes the power to the fuse that protects the monitor from electrical surges. 

It is important to note that monitor capacitors can become charged even when the monitor is turned off.

Having capacitors recharged after the monitor is turned off since the monitor can be protected from electrical surges.

What are Capacitors?

A capacitor is an electrical component that stores energy. They are used in just about every piece of electronics we use today.

Capacitors are used to store a charge of electricity between two conductors. 

The conductors are usually made of a dielectric material, which is used to separate electrically charged particles.

The amount of electricity that a capacitor can store is measured in farads.

How long does it take capacitors to drain?

When people ask how long monitor capacitors last, they usually refer to the electrolytic capacitors used in the power supply of a computer monitor.

While it is true that these capacitors can fail, it doesn’t mean that they will fail immediately or that failing capacitors are the only reason why monitors fail. 

The fact is, power supply capacitors are pretty reliable, as long as they are used correctly.

A power supply capacitor, also known as an electrolytic capacitor, is a polarized, electrochemical capacitor, and its primary purpose is to supply DC power to electronic devices. 

Capacitors are affected by the temperature, and their lifetime varies depending on the ambient temperature in the location where they are used.

What causes Monitor Capacitors to Fail?

Monitor capacitors generally last long, but there are many cases where we see that capacitors are getting damaged within one or two years and need to be repaired.

Capacitor failure due to Excessive Heat

In a circuit, the main thing that can cause a monitor’s capacitor to fail is the heat in it.

When you run a monitor throughout the day, it will generate a lot of heat.

If there is not a proper cooling mechanism in place while designing the circuit, it can cause the capacitor to fail fast.

A good idea would be to have air vents that should not be clogged with dust and need to be cleaned periodically.

Capacitor failure due to Overvoltage

Another reason for capacitors failing is that voltage fluctuations and sudden high amounts of voltage can cause a capacitor to get damaged.

So, there needs to be a Voltage Protection mechanism in the circuit that can do most of the commonly damaging reasons for the capacitor.

LCD monitor capacitor failure symptoms

Once your monitor is significantly old, its capacitors have also aged and tend to get bad. If you would like to know if they are showing any failure symptoms, they can be as follows:

Capacitors getting Deformed

Once the capacitors are old and open the monitor’s circuit, you may see this.

The capacitor may have a building top which is not good, and also, you can see you might have tilted it as the bottom part has expanded or bulged.

Seeing a capacitor getting deformed in the circuit is a common symptom of Capacitor failure in the monitor.

Leakage of Capacitor Material on the circuit board

You may even see a leakage of the capacitor material on the top of the circuit board, which also signifies damage to the capacitor. 

Discoloration of Capacitor

Suppose you compare the color of the capacitors in the circuit. In that case, you may find discoloration of some of the capacitors, which you can consider testing with a Multimeter for confirmation to know if it has been damaged.

Burnt capacitor

The capacitor also explodes in the circuit. You will see black burn marks on the circuit board and see the charred remnants of the capacitor.

Most of the time, you can spot a burnt piece of capacitor in the circuit, which helps to know which has got bad and needs to be replaced.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude the post on how long a monitor capacitor lasts.

Generally, a monitor’s capacitor lasts long with regular usage.

Once the monitor gets old, the capacitor slowly degrades and gets damaged. You can replace them with good capacitors to make it work again.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post.