The tantalum capacitor is short-circuited and I would like to replace

If you're getting into Harry Potter repair methods give me a shout, I'm interested in learning that too =;))

@arbaman ... what...you've never been taught in the ways of the magic smoke?

It's simple really, electronics work because of the magic smoke contained inside every component. When the magic smoke escapes, the component ceases to function properly and board failures can occur. There's even a latin phrase explaining this scientific concept (Post hoc ergo propter hoc).

Back in the mid-70's, IBM had canisters of magic smoke available for their field service engineers, there's photographic evidence of it here.

In some extreme cases, the magic smoke gets captured during it's escape, as we can see in this picture, freezing the escape in time. Yet no one knows for certain if the magic smoke was put back inside it's component (who really knows anyway?).

I'll tag the ancient wizards of old to see if they can share their experiences with this magical smoke... @oldturkey03 @mayer @danj @jayeff @benjamen50

@refectio you have to be very careful not to inhale magic smoke. I did so in 1973 and forgot how to breath. Hyperventilation syndrome hit me and I actually thought I was going to die. A good solution is to use the Hakko FA-400 bench top smoke absorber. Smoke Absorber Hakko FA-400 Magic smoke has also been know to change good Republicans into Democrats. https://www.apnews.com/4973bdef74a942feb...

@mayer For me, there's nothing like the smell of magic smoke in the morning...

I must have been overexposed to it and unlike with @mayer , instead of forgetting how to breath, I forgot the ways to magic smoke handling. Pretty sad, it seems I need the kiss of a princess into magic smoke path to regain the ability to see it and handle its magic. If you guys get across her one a day or another please tell her about me, you know how to get in touch. Thanks heaps for telling me, a wonderful awakening :)