[Hallicrafters] Another dumb question-Capacitor Checkers

[David Box]

Bill

I have two cap checkers a Heathkit IT-28 and a Sprague TO-6 Tel-Ohmike.  The
TO-6 is the better of the two IMHO and it also just looks more impressive
sitting on the work bench shelf.

As far as do you need one, probably not a necessity as there are many ways
to trouble shoot a bad cap just as well and sometimes easier than trying to
use the cap checker.  An assortment of caps with clip leads and a pair of
dykes is sure quick.  What I do use mine a lot for is sorting out cap values
and also rejuvenating caps from the junk box that have been sitting around
for several years.  With the cap checker you can set the voltage to the
prescribed rating level and then monitor the current as the cap reforms the
electrolyte.  It is easy to watch the current characteristics of the
charging process and determine if the cap is worth using or should be thrown
away.  Other ways to do this but is handy to just sort through the junk box
while doing other work in the shop this way.  The accuracy of the TO-6 I
have is certainly good enough to spot out of tolerance units in a tuned
circuit.

There is also the advantage of having the ability to do high voltage
insulation testing, this came in handy in finding a high voltage breakdown
problem I was having on an L4B power supply that I finally isolated to a
winding breakdown with that feature.

Again you probably do not NEED one, but is handy and the right one gives the
work bench that little flair of the old days.  There are some good
capacitance measurement units out there and you can find some reasonable DMM
that have capacitance ranges, but you do not get the ability to test under
full voltage nor look at the leakage or power factor with those type of
units.

73 de Dave K5MWR

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Campbell" <wd4hen at bellsouth.net>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 7:00 PM
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Another dumb question-Capacitor Checkers


> I have several pieces of vintage gear including a very nice SX101/HT32A
that
> I would like to make fully operational. Of course capacitors are going one
> of the first things I will be looking at.  My question is...... is a
> capacitor checker useful enough to warrant buying one and if so any
> recommendations on which one/s to get?  I am not technically astute but
> trying and willing to learn.  Hence, I am asking the experts. All points
of
> view welcome.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill - WD4HEN
>
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