You have been directed to this web page because it has been determined that there is a short-circuit on the -12 volt line of your IBM 5150/5155/5160 motherboard.

We know that the short-circuit is on the motherboard because you were earlier instructed to remove all expansion cards from the motherboard.

It is very highly likely that the tantalum capacitor on the -12 volt line of your motherboard is the component that has become short-circuit.
Faulty tantalum capacitors is a very common problem with the 5150/5155/5160 motherboards.

Visually inspecting the tantalum capacitors may (repeat: may) reveal the faulty capacitor.
In some cases, the faulty tantalum capacitor may only have a small black eye/hole, as pictured below.



But the faulty tantalum capacitor may have absolutely no visual indication of failure.


IBM 5150 (IBM PC) motherboard

On a 5150 motherboard (of both types), only one component is on the -12 volt line, and that component is a tantalum capacitor.
Click here to see a photo that shows the capacitor.

That particular capacitor is not critical to the operation of this motherboard, and this motherboard can operate without it.
Remove the capacitor either by desoldering, or by using a pair of sidecutters to cut the capacitor off the board.
If you have little soldering experience, then perhaps use the technique shown at here, because on a 5150 motherboard, soldering the ground and/or power lines on the PCB is problematic, and you you could end up damaging the PCB.
Your motherboard should work after the capacitor has been removed (noting that in rare cases, the power supply may need more than the motherboard to adequately load it).

The reason that this capacitor is not critical to operation, is because, on the 5150 motherboard, it filters only the -12 volt line going to the expansion slots.  More information at here.

Should you later wish to solder in a replacement capacitor (the recommended action), then click here for replacement details.


IBM 5155 (IBM Portable PC) motherboard

The 5155 contains an early 5160 motherboard. Refer to the 5160 motherboard section that follows.


IBM 5160 (IBM XT) motherboard

On a 5160 motherboard (of both types), there are two components on the -12 volt line.  C57 and C58, both capacitors, are the components on the -12 volt line.  Pictured at here.

Although it is possible for C57 (ceramic, not tantalum type) to go short-circuit, C58 is the known problem one.  C58 is well known for going short-circuit, per the history shown at here.  Following, I am targeting C58.

Capacitor C58 is not critical to the operation of this motherboard, and this motherboard can operate without it.
Remove the capacitor either by desoldering, or by using a pair of sidecutters to cut the capacitor off the board.
If you have little soldering experience, then perhaps use the technique shown at here, because on a 5160 motherboard, soldering the ground and/or power lines on the PCB is problematic, and you you could end up damaging the PCB.

If nothing else is wrong with your IBM 5160, your 5160 will now start  (noting that in rare cases, the power supply may need more than the motherboard to adequately load it).

The reason that capacitor C58 is not critical to operation, is because, on the 5160 motherboard, it filters only the -12 volt line going to the expansion slots.  More information at here.

Should you later wish to solder in a replacement capacitor (the recommended action), then click here for replacement details.