I would just get the new capacitors. I once hooked up an old Johnson
Thunderbolt and tried to get it to power up. I let everything percolate
for a while and then fired up the high voltage. I wound up vaporizing
the fuse elements and flash depositing them on the glass tubes of the
fuses. Then, I replaced all the caps with brand new ones. Luckily
nothing else blew up.
Steve WA9JML
Ken Brown wrote:
>>
>>> Anyone have a quick link or a reference to the right way to bring up an
>>> old amp power supply? I have a variac for both 120 and 220, and I got
>>> an old friend's Drake L4B, not used for at least 10 years (maybe more)
>>> and nothing was apparently wrong when it was stored (he was looking for
>>> chimney's of some sort). I'd like to bring the power supply up so that
>>> the electrolytic caps will work once again.
>>>
>>>
>> In theory bring it up slowly current limited to reform the capacitors.
>> But in my experience more have failed immediately than I've successfully
>> reformed. New electrolytics are more sure to work. More than one failed
>> electrolytic for me has filled the chassis with shredded foil and
>> electrolyte filled crepe paper. A really tough mess to clean up. Old
>> electrolytics don't get that chance anymore.
>>
> Not used for at least 10 years, and the capacitors are certainly a lot
> older than that. When you compare the cost and labor of buying new ones
> and putting them in first, versus the cost and labor of cleaning up the
> mess of exploded old capacitors AND buying new ones and putting them in,
> I think the best choice is just to buy new ones and put them in first.
>
> I wonder if you could fit an oil filled capacitor of similar capacitance
> value and voltage rating in the same space, instead of using electrolytics?
>
> DE N6KB
>>
>
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