user31105: I have a Arduino Mega where a capacitor is 'broken off' ... I originally posted the question in the Electronics forum (Question). 
One of the answers was that the capacitor is not critical. Can anyone confirm it (and consequences by not fixing it at all)? I didn't dare to turn on the Mega because of the broken capacitor.
It looks like this:


user30198: If the voltage regulator is a MC33269 as in the official Arduino Mega 2560, then you need that capacitor, or else the MC33269 might start to oscillate. Search in the datasheet of the MC33269 for the paragraph with: "The MC33269 requires an external output capacitor for stability". The board will probably still work without it, but if it does indeed start to oscillate, then it can cause trouble. This is only when powered via the power barrel jack or the VIN pin.
That capacitor does not do a lot when the Arduino Mega is powered via the USB cable. You can use it without any problem when powered via the USB.
According to the photo, you can solder it back into place. They wrote enough about that in the EESE section. Give it a try, but don't create a shortcut with too much solder.

31105: <p>I have a Arduino Mega where a capacitor is 'broken off' ... I originally posted the question in the Electronics forum (<a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/314084/is-this-solderable/314109#314109">Question</a>). </p>

<p>One of the answers was that the capacitor is not critical. Can anyone confirm it (and consequences by not fixing it at all)? I didn't dare to turn on the Mega because of the broken capacitor.</p>

<p>It looks like this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/oGEHR.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/oGEHR.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
 30198: <p>If the voltage regulator is a MC33269 as in the official Arduino Mega 2560, then you need that capacitor, or else the MC33269 might start to oscillate. Search in the datasheet of the MC33269 for the paragraph with: "The MC33269 requires an external output capacitor for stability". The board will probably still work without it, but if it does indeed start to oscillate, then it can cause trouble. This is only when powered via the power barrel jack or the VIN pin.</p>

<p>That capacitor does not do a lot when the Arduino Mega is powered via the USB cable. You can use it without any problem when powered via the USB.</p>

<p>According to the photo, you can solder it back into place. They wrote enough about that in the EESE section. Give it a try, but don't create a shortcut with too much solder.</p>
