[Hallicrafters] AC Bypass Caps in SX-111 MK 1.

[Mike Everette]

Mark,

I'm sure some folks will disagree with me... but I would recommend that you not 
sweat those line bypass caps.  In fact, LEAVE THEM THE HECK OUT.

If they start to leak much at all, you are going to have AC voltage on the 
chassis.  I've seen radios with between 30 and 60 volts AC on them for this 
reason.  That's enough to give you one serious jolt.  And yes, this was due to 
line bypass capacitor leakage... not leakage in the power transformer.  In all 
my experience,  which includes ham radio, commercial two-way, avionics, and 
broadcast engineering, I have seen only two power transformers develop 
primary-to-frame leakage; but PLENTY of leaky line bypass caps.  I damn near got 
killed once by a background-music system PA amplifier with a hot chassis from a 
leaky cap, when the back of my head touched that chassi as I was reaching my 
bare and sweaty arm behind a HVAC duct to fish out a speaker lead.  
Sha-ZAAAAAAM!  As a result, the very first thing I do when a "new" radio or any 
other device comes into my life is to make REAL sure to take the things out of 
it!

I remain unconvinced regarding the benefits of having these capacitors in the 
radio at all.... except to a funeral director.

73

Mike
W4DSE