[ARC5] BC-453 Current Draw and leaky caps.

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 20 Jan 2015 at 16:57, Dennis Monticelli wrote:

> The caps can have considerable leakage, yet the sets will still operate.

True, but see below.

> The supply drain numbers can be inflated at the higher voltages if there
> are leaky caps present.

Yes, but current draw is NOT the only bad effect of leaky caps! 

In my experience, leaky caps (most of which are simply bypass caps), also 
cause reduced sensitivity, increased noise, increased heat caused by 
increased current draw, and damaged resistors.

I was amazed at how much better my receivers sounded and worked after I 
had recapped one of my "pre-hacked" junkers.

Sure, it worked with the leaky caps, but after the recapping, the difference 
was like that between night and day.

IMHO, if we want these receivers to work at least as well as they did when 
new, then recapping is mandatory, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with 
re-stuffing. It ain't that difficult.

Ken W7EKB