[Boatanchors] Electrolytic Reforming Time

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Al,

OK.  The reason that I asked is that the only time I ever watched an 
electrolytic explode was due to the failure of some late 50's early silicon 
diodes.  Luckily, it was a paper encased axial lead type and my face wasn't in 
line with its axis.  Also luckily I had only recently (this was circa November 
1964) begun wearing glasses.  I had a piece of foil stuck to one of the 
lenses.

My opinion on reforming electrolytics is in between the two extremes.  If 
the reforming isn't successful in about 4 hours (or overnight if the process 
starts just before I go to bed), I class it as bad and either replace or 
rebuild, depending.

In a message dated 12/30/2011 23:08:11 PM Central Standard Time, 
al at ar88.net writes: 
> Robert,
> 
> Not that I remember.  You're right, that could cause problems even with a 
> new cap.  I was kinda hoping that the safety vents would keep one from 
> actually bursting with that much force, but this is the kind of thing that 
> happens with 50-60 year-old components. 
> 
> Al
> 
> 
> On 12/30/2011 11:17 PM, WA5CAB at cs.com wrote: 
> >> Al,
>> 
>> Was the rectifier shorted after the explosion?
>> 
>> In a message dated 12/30/2011 21:01:23 PM Central Standard Time, 
>> al at ar88.net writes: 
>> >>> I'm with Carl on this one.  I'd started to go easy on replacing 
>>> electrolytics, as a lot of the post-war ones seemed to come around and 
>>> function OK.
>>> 
>>> THEN, a Sprague twist-prong that had been working happily for two weeks 
>>> exploded.  There was a bunch of shredded material on the PS, but the can 
>>> 
>>> was not in evidence.  A little looking around found it across the great 
>>> room, and a little more looking revealed a 3/4" deep dent 16 feet up on 
>>> the cathedral ceiling,
>>> 
>>> 'nuff said!
>>> 
>>> Al
>>> 
>>> On 12/30/2011 9:20 PM, Geoff wrote:
>>> >Just replace all electrolytics as dried out electrolytes will not 
>>> magically
>>> >repair themselves.
>>> >Reforming is pure folly as a complete failure will happen but you cant
>>> >predict it.
>>> >
>>> >Carl
>>> >KM1H
>> 
> 

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