Fascinating story, thanks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plaguemarshman wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:15 pm I wouldn't worry. Wait until it fails then either repair or replace - probably replace with a more efficient inverter.
In my view electrolytic capacitors have developed a bad "rap" due to a spate of failures of capacitors produced in the early 2000's. Just Google "capacitor plague"! I remember repairing many failed switch mode power supplies in everything from PC power supplies to PSU boards in set top boxes. In recent years the only failures caused by failed electrolytic caps I have seen have been in products produced in that era, or using components produced in that era. It is a known and documented problem caused by "dodgy" electrolyte produced in Taiwan. It was a massive problem for the industry. It was exacerbated by poor design where components were underspecified. Decent designs would use well specified components with wide temperature ranges, low ESR (internal resistance) etc. with care taken to minimise peak currents. All of which stress the capacitor and with the poor quality electrolyte led to early failures. A capacitors worst enemy, as with nearly all electronic components, is heat - but they are particularly vulnerable as it degrades the electrolyte. So a decent design, with comfortably rated components with adequate cooling/ventilation will last many years. I have 3 inverters here - all Sunny Boys as it happens, the youngest of which is 11 years old - all still running quite happily. The noticeable thing about all of them is they do not run hot, they get barely warm to the touch. My "new" Solis hybrid on the other hand, when working full tilt, gets almost too hot to touch. The internal temp monitor reports around 65 - 75 deg C. Too hot to my mind so I have fitted a thermostatic cooling fan for the external heatsink. This keeps the internal temperature down to a more reasonable 40 deg C, hopefully ensuring a long(ish) life.
A much more common capacitor (non electrolytic) failure is on AC motor start and run capacitors, I have 3 or 4 fail in recent years on various motors (air compressors, shower pumps etc.) and they are not electrolytics. Have also had a few "X2" rated mains filter caps fail on a few appliances as well, some relatively new. I now carry a stock of them in a range of values.
Should be made into a film, got everything from human error to industrial espionage!