[ QUOTE ]
Ralf said:
pyro, but even if the circuit is potted
there is mathematical a higher defect possibility
because there are hundrets of electronic devices.
each of them has a theoretical defect possibility
(Ausfallwahrscheinlichkeit in german, hope the translation is right)
You can see this in the car sector more and more defects
are electronic ones. So if you have an 1960s beatle keep
it safe, your 2001 Mercedes will not last that long /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
Cheers
Ralf
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm sorry, but this is simply complete and utter nonsense!
The bulb in the incandescent has a *much* higher probability of failure, both due to shock and to the limited life of the bulb itself. No contest. (Assuming all other things are built equally.) We drop (literally)electronic equipment onto other planets - it's quite possible to build something that is more impact resistant than a bulb!
1961 Beetle vs. 2001 Mercedes. I have a good friend who drove one of these, and was in an accident. The Beetle had inadequate braking, and rolled in the accident. She broke her face in about 3 places. She was lucky to have survived the accident. In a 2001 Mercedes, even if the ABS brakes, better stearing, and superior suspension and traction control hadn't helped her keep the car in control and avoid the accident, the airbag would have deployed and the car almost certainly would not have rolled. She'd likely have emerged with only minor injuries. So no, I don't buy that one either.
BTW, having had friends who owned these, and watching them try to START their Beetles on a daily basis, I really don't buy reliability in *any* sense of the word when applied to these cars.