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Re: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail

To: "Jim Hargrave" <w5ifp@gvtc.com>, <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail
From: "Carl" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:40:12 -0400
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
I meant to say 450V or more!

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Hargrave" <w5ifp@gvtc.com>
To: "Carl" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>; <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:51 AM
Subject: RE: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail


> My old Eico model 950 still works great. It goes to 500v and covers most
> common electrolytics.
>
>    73s de Jim
>       W5IFP
>
>
>  > -----Original Message-----
>  > From: amps-bounces@contesting.com 
> [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]On
>  > Behalf Of Carl
>  > Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 8:28 AM
>  > To: Al Kozakiewicz; 'k7fm'; amps@contesting.com
>  > Subject: Re: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail
>  >
>  >
>  > Very few have access to a ESR tester that works at 45V or more
>  > and these
>  > hand helds are completely useless for this since they use 9V or less.
>  >
>  > Mine are a military ZM-11 and a Sprague TO-6A plus a 1940 model
>  > 16 (Postwar
>  > renamed the TO-3) that goes to a bit beyond 1000V and that one
>  > has caught
>  > several oil filled over the years.
>  > Nothing lasts forever.
>  >
>  > Carl
>  > KM1H
>  >
>  >
>  > ----- Original Message -----
>  > From: "Al Kozakiewicz" <akozak@hourglass.com>
>  > To: "'k7fm'" <k7fm@teleport.com>; <amps@contesting.com>
>  > Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:42 PM
>  > Subject: Re: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail
>  >
>  >
>  > > ESR is a good indicator for end of service life.  With an
>  > ample current
>  > > source, increased resistance = more power dissipated in the
>  > component =
>  > > more heat = more boom.  Increasing ESR is usually accompanied
>  > by decreased
>  > > capacitance.  If you can't measure ESR, an electrolytic significantly
>  > > below the normal -20% tolerance probably means it's
>  > approaching the danger
>  > > zone in addition to losing effectiveness.
>  > >
>  > > Although not directly related to the mac daddies used in amplifiers,
>  > > apparently there has been a major problem with electrolytics
>  > in general
>  > > starting the late 1990s, mainly with components labeled as
>  > manufactured in
>  > > Taiwan (though counterfeits may be a major contributor).  I
>  > know that I've
>  > > taught the network techs at work how to salvage a large
>  > number of dead
>  > > monitors without a schematic or any diagnostic tool other
>  > than examining
>  > > the electrolytic capacitors for bulging.  Replacement almost always
>  > > resurrects the device.  There's a wikipedia entry on this
>  > problem called
>  > > "capacitor plague" or some such.
>  > >
>  > > Al
>  > > AB2ZY
>  > >
>  > > -----Original Message-----
>  > > From: amps-bounces@contesting.com
>  > [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
>  > > Behalf Of k7fm
>  > > Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:23 PM
>  > > To: amps@contesting.com
>  > > Subject: Re: [Amps] How to know when filter caps begin to fail
>  > >
>  > > So, after all the horror stories of exploding caps, I want to
>  > mention that
>  > > a few months ago, I removed each original capacitor from one
>  > of my Alpha
>  > > 76A amplifiers.  It was fairly low time and had been sitting
>  > on the shelf.
>  > > I reformed each capacitor, measured the capacitance, and they
>  > were all
>  > > within factory specs.  I then formed each one, working up to
>  > 450 volts,
>  > > the rated voltage.  Each one had very low leakage.  ESR on
>  > each one tested
>  > > as good as new.  So, I put them back into the Alpha.  I was
>  > also surprised
>  > > that the original carbon composition resistors were each
>  > within tolerance
>  > > and quite close to each other.
>  > >
>  > > I could have installed new capacitors, but after passing all
>  > these tests,
>  > > I did not hesitate to reinstall them into the amplifier.
>  > Heat contributes
>  > > greatly to the aging process.
>  > >
>  > > Unless I was comfortable with the results of these tests, I
>  > would have
>  > > replaced them.  I own and fly an old wood aircraft.  Things
>  > get replaced
>  > > if they need replacing - but if they are still good, they do not get
>  > > replaced.
>  > >
>  > > 73,  Colin  K7FM
>  > >
>  > > _______________________________________________
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>  > >
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