[Boatanchors] Old Electrolytic capacitors

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

I'll second that.  I use a TO-6A (and sold my EICO 950B to an EICO 
collector).  The 950B works well and is smaller than the TO-6 but it lacks the reforming 
and leakage test capability of the TO-6.

In most cases (other than oscillator circuits), the exact capacitance value 
is not super critical.  So the increased precision (but not necessarily 
increased accuracy) of the digital display units is no great advantage.

In a message dated 6/10/2005 9:15:21 AM Central Daylight Time, kulow at epix.net 
writes: 
> >
> >Anyone have a recommendation for a cap checker? Here's my 
> >question. I know that one should check both the value of the 
> >cap and at what voltage the dielectric breaks down or starts 
> >to leak.  I see some LCR meters on ebay periodically but I 
> >don't know if those are used primarily for checking the value only? 
> 
> <snip>
> 
> The Sprague TO-6 is the best unit for testing caps, both paper and
> electrolytic.
> It will test 'lytics for leakage current at rated voltage and non-'lytics
> for
> insulation resistance.  The owner's manual gives values that new caps should
> meet.
> 

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)