[Boatanchors] Q of electrolytic capacitors

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Yong Lee,

One of the best instruments around for testing and reforming or attempting to 
reform vintage low voltage capacitors is any model from the Sprague TO-n 
line.  I have a TO-6A that sees regular service.  It is a form of R-C bridge that 
measures capacitance, resistance and leakage current.  The built in power 
supply is adjustable from 0 to 600 VDC.  At least in the -6A model.  Physically, 
it is about the same size as an I-177 or an SG-377/URM-127 but weighs a little 
less.

In a message dated 11/29/2004 11:24:16 PM Central Standard Time, 
yonglee at yonsei.ac.kr writes: 
> Thanks for your reply. What I want to know is how to test old electrolytic
> caps to see if they leak or not. I thought a leaking cap is equivalent to a
> resistor connected in parallel with the cap. How do I find out if an old cap
> is leaking or not? Also how much it is leaking.
> What I used is an Extech LCR meter. Leaky caps show low Q like 0.5- 2.0 and
> higher cap value than its original cap value.
> Is there any better way?

73
Robert Downs - Houston
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