[Boatanchors] Electrolytics- How Much is Too Much

[Jim Wilhite]

Hi Dave,

I have a Sprague TO-6 with the manual.  In it is the table of value vs. 
current leakage for electrolytic caps.  I would be happy to scan and send to 
you so you can see what the maximum ratings are.  The current production 
caps will do better so you will want to look at these numbers as maximum.

I wonder why you would want to tie all three sections of that subject cap 
together to measure the current.  You may have one section that is bad and 2 
that aren't.  I have a piece of equipment that had two 3 section can caps in 
it and only two sections of each was used so if I isolated one section bad, 
I could remove it and connect the remaining good section.

Jim
W5JO



----- Original Message ----- 



> High Voltage electrolytics- how much current leakage
> at rated voltage is "too much?"
>
> There are old standards published 70 years ago,
> but I'm interested in your current insight.
> Say- I have an original can capacitor, rated 40-40-40 at 450 volts.  After 
> sitting with all three tied together and at
> 400 volts, total leakage was about 1.5. mA.
>
> I'm not interested in re-igniting the nasty name-calling
> over whether or not "re-forming" caps is a good or bad idea- only in what 
> level of leakage is, in your opinion,
> acceptable in order to maintain a stock part in a set.
>
> 73 DE Dave AB5S