RIFA CAPACITOR LOOKUP TOOL

WILL IT SMOKE?

Does your vintage computer contain a RIFA capacitor?

Search your computer, monitor, drive or other vintage equipment. WillItSmoke checks the documented model, aliases and known PSU information and tells you what is currently known.

RIFA CHECK

ENTER YOUR COMPUTER OR SYSTEM

CHECK FOR RIFAS

⚠ RIFA CONFIRMED Documented in this model or a known PSU/revision.

✓ NO RIFA CURRENTLY KNOWN No RIFA is currently documented for the listed example/revision.

? NOT YET VERIFIED The database does not yet have enough evidence.

CHECK THE EXACT PSU / REVISION. The same computer can contain different power supplies depending on production run, region or previous repairs. A database result is a starting point for inspection, not an electrical-safety certificate.

MISSING A MACHINE? New machines are very welcome. If your computer, monitor, disk drive or PSU is not yet in the database, you can still submit it for review and help grow the WillItSmoke project.

ADD A NEW MACHINE

Connecting to database… •

WATCH THE SAFETY BRIEFING — BEFORE OPENING A PSU ⌄

BEFORE YOU POWER IT UP

SAFETY BRIEFING

RIFA suppression capacitors are commonly found around mains-input and EMI-filtering circuitry. That means the area you are inspecting may contain hazardous mains voltage.

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MAINS VOLTAGE CAN KILL

Never open, probe or repair a mains-powered supply unless you know how to work safely around mains voltage and stored charge.

INEXPERIENCED? STOP HERE.

If you are not experienced with mains-powered electronics, do not continue inside the PSU. Ask an experienced technician for help.

UNPLUGGED ≠ GUARANTEED SAFE

Capacitors may retain charge after power is removed. Never assume a disconnected machine is automatically safe to touch.

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RIFA LOOKUP

Enter your system above

WillItSmoke will check the machine name and aliases against the live database and show whether RIFAs are documented, not currently known, or still unverified.

– DATABASE RECORDS

– RIFA CONFIRMED

– NO RIFA KNOWN

– UNKNOWN

– REPORTED MAGIC SMOKE INCIDENTS

DATABASE BROWSER

Browse machines

← →

Loading machines…

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“No RIFA known” is not “safe”

The database only describes what is currently documented. Other hazardous or failed components may still be present.

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PSU and regional revisions matter

The same computer model may have shipped with multiple power-supply manufacturers or revisions. Always compare the actual PSU in front of you with the documented evidence.

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Found something new?

Community reports are useful when they include the exact computer, PSU/revision, RIFA location, markings and preferably photographs.

REPORT INFORMATION → REPORT MAGIC SMOKE →

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Image sources

RetroMels collection images are preferred. Where no collection image is available, the database can use Wikimedia Commons or the WillItSmoke “no picture available” graphic.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

WillItSmoke? is a preservation and component-identification database, not an electrical-safety certification or repair manual. Do not power a vintage machine simply to see whether a suspect capacitor fails. If you are not experienced with mains-powered electronics, step away from the PSU and seek help from someone who is.