Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - unclestu52

Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor...

Posted by unclestu52 (D) on April 25, 2007 at 02:59:55

In Reply to: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... posted by HOK on April 24, 2007 at 20:27:40:

If the multi section cap is newly manufactured: say from AES, it won't have PCB. PCB is actually pretty inert, and was deliberately designed to be so. If you've ever worked on those 50's and early 60's cars, you've probably already been exposed to PCB. They were in that tarry stuff they stuffed into the voltage regulators. If you're worried, use a pair of surgical gloves when disassembling the cap, I believe most electrolytics have a propylene glycol (antifreeze) solution in them with some other chemicals added.

If you already have the AES cap in and it is leaking, chances are that the the voltage being applied is greater than what the cap is rated for. Early multi section caps were something like 475 volt rated and the newer ones have upped their voltage rating to something like 525 (I forget the actual ratings, it's been a while). Sprague used to check their caps at twice the rated voltage for 3 minutes and can take a high ripple, or voltages that would otherwise kill many caps. They are now a division of Vishay and I haven't pushed their recently manufactured products' ratings. Remember when restoring older vintage gear, many have power transformers rated for a 115 VAC input, and the current standard is 120, and 125 is not uncommon these days. Secondaries can easily exceed the original parts specifications.

Stu

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - HOK 20:27:40 04/24/07 (11)

Thanks for the responses... - HOK 17:46:18 04/25/07 (0)

Atoms are very tough (a good thing) - Russ57 10:46:51 04/25/07 (1)

You can probably go higher than 40uF for the first cap - CometCKO 19:26:43 04/25/07 (0)

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - Michael Samra 07:12:37 04/25/07 (1)

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - NUKE EM 09:28:17 04/25/07 (0)

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - unclestu52 02:59:55 04/25/07 (2)

"I could give a three hour dissertation on why PCBs are harmless". - nightdoggy 16:32:47 04/25/07 (0)

Thanks... - HOK 05:08:26 04/25/07 (0)

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - Gordy 21:21:52 04/24/07 (0)

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - gkargreen 21:11:58 04/24/07 (1)

because... - HOK 21:29:12 04/24/07 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Opening an Electrolytic Can (of worms) Capacitor... - unclestu52 02:59:55 04/25/07 (2)

"I could give a three hour dissertation on why PCBs are harmless". - nightdoggy 16:32:47 04/25/07 (0)

Thanks... - HOK 05:08:26 04/25/07 (0)

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