[Hallicrafters] postage stamp mica caps

[Kenneth D. Grimm, K4XL]

Chuck, I had always assumed that "meggers" were used for ground testing.
Thanks to you I've added their synonymous "hi-pot" definition to my
vocabulary.  Cool.

However, I have a feeling that more BA enthusiasts are likely to have
access to an old Eico, Sprague or Heath capacitor checker than a megger.
These instruments allow you to apply a test voltage and give they give a
meter or magic-eye indication of whether the cap in question can still
hack the voltage.  My old Eico 950B tests up to 500v.


Ken, postage stamp style caps were not all mica.  Ordinary paper
construction was also encased in the same type case.  Chuck's warning
about not trusting old caps is on the money.  You really should test all
of these before using them.

Do the caps have any markings on them other than value?  If they do, a
little web research might give you more information about them.

73,
Ken K4XL
k4xl at arrl.net
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----- Original Message -----
From: "JM/CO" <jmerritt2 at capecod.net>


<snip> Use a megger. This is the
only way to check these at their rated voltage. Simple capacitance
meters,
or ohmmeters will not tell the tale.
<snip> When it comes to older capacitors, NEVER assume
anything.
Chuck N1LNH
-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Laine Ketner <ketner at arisbeassociates.com>

A friend just gave me a nice cabinet with a large assortment of molded
mica caps. Can't beat the free price. Some of these are labelled 500
vdc. These are probably fairly recent manufacture, not the old slick
plastic molded micas from the 1930s. Does anyone have an informed
opinion on whether these are dependable for re-capping purposes within
the wvdc range?