[Boatanchors] Electrolytic Reforming Time

[Phil]

Some 25 years or so ago I had a similar experience, only not with 
reforming caps.  A friend brought me a CB base station to repair.  He'd 
had it in the shop and they told him it wasn't repairable.  I had it 
turned on and sitting on the work table with the case off to 
troubleshoot it, and just stepped back when the PC mounted can let loose 
with a very loud bang, it sounded like a gunshot.  Foil flew everywhere 
and I found the can embedded in the ceiling drywall!   There was also a 
chunk blown out of the circuit board where the can had been mounted and 
our small pet dog was huddled  against the front door of the apartment . . .

If it had let loose just a few minutes sooner I'd have probably either 
been blinded or possibly dead as I'd been examining that section 
troubleshooting the PS.   When I questioned the owner of the radio he 
mentioned that the shop had determined that the PS was bad and had 
replaced a number of parts.  The turkeys probably installed the can 
backwards.

So, it doesn't pay to take any chances with those 'lytics.

-- 
73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://ko6bb1.multiply.com/ (OTR Blog)
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/  (Web Page)

RADIOS:
Grundigs: Satellit 750 (2011), S-350 (2006)&   G6 (2011).
Kenwood: TS130S Transceiver (circa 1980).
Radio Shack: DX-380 digital portable (circa 1990).
Yaesu: Two FT-8800 Mobiles, VX8R Quad-Band (circa 2010).
Zenith: Royal-7000 Transoceanic (circa 1969).

ACCESSORIES: MFJ 1040C Pre-Selector, W9GR Audio DSP.
ANTENNA: 88' Long Ladder-line fed dipole, Apex at 35 feet.

Central California

> 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.
>